When a small plane carrying nine people crashed into the ocean off the Hawaiian island of Molokai on Wednesday, the only person onboard killed in the wreckage was Loretta Fuddy, the director of the state Department of Health, who stepped into a national spotlight two years ago when she approved a request to allow President Obama access to copies of his birth certificate.
Fuddy, 65, was more recently occupied with implementation of Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
All the other eight passengers on the plane, including the pilot and the health department’s deputy director, Keith Yamamoto, survived the crash.
The Makani Kai Air plane was bound for Honolulu when it crashed about a half-mile northwest of Kalaupapa peninsula.
Fuddy and her deputy director were on the flight after an annual visit to Kalaupapa, a remote peninsula on the north side of Molokai where the state exiled leprosy patients until 1969. The leprosy settlement is still run by the state health department, though only a few former leprosy patients remain.
Fuddy’s intervention in the “birther” saga was important because it came at a time when the birthers, including real estate mogul Donald Trump, were again questioning why Obama had not ensured the release of the long form of his birth certificate. The certificate showed a document signed by the delivery doctor, Obama’s mother and the local registrar. His mother, then 18, signed her name (Stanley) Ann Dunham Obama.
“I cannot even begin to convey what a terrible loss this is for Hawaii,” Tom Matsuda, interim executive director of Hawaii’s health insurance exchange, said in a statement. “I worked closely with Director Fuddy on the Affordable Care Act and came to know and respect her as a passionate advocate for public health and a warm, caring human being.”
Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Fuddy was loved and respected.
“Her knowledge was vast, her counsel and advice always given from her heart as much as from her storehouse of experience,” Abercrombie said.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who served as former lieutenant governor under Abercrombie, said Fuddy was capable and caring.
She had worked in health and human services for 30 years and had been health director since March 2011. Her most recent work included leading the department as it transitioned its marriage license system to allow gay couples to wed under a new law that took effect this month.
According to Coast Guard Petty Officer Melissa McKenzie, a Coast Guard helicopter rescued three passengers from the water and Maui fire crews picked up others. One person swam ashore.
