Hawaii political and community leaders reacted with shock and sadness as the toll from Tuesday’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, continued to climb throughout the day. 

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. David Ige ordered the U.S. flag and Hawaii state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol all state offices and agencies, and the Hawaii National Guard until sunset on Saturday

  • Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi ordered flags lowered at all City and County Honolulu facilities

  • U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono invoked the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Dec. 2012 in once again calling for new national gun control legislation

  • Tuesday’s massacre was at least the 30th mass shooting to occur at a K-12 school in 2022, according to statistics compiled by CNN

A lone gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos of Uvalde, killed 19 students and at least two adults on Tuesday.

At the direction of Pres. Joe Biden, Gov. David Ige ordered the U.S. flag and Hawaii state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol, all state offices and agencies, and the Hawaii National Guard until sunset on Saturday.

“I join our nation in mourning the tragic and senseless loss of these innocent victims, and I stand with the families of those affected by this horrific act of violence,” Ige said. “On behalf of the State of Hawaii, I express my deepest condolences to the victims’ families, the faculty, staff and student body at Robb Elementary School, and the Uvalde community in Texas.”

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi likewise ordered flags at all City and County of Honolulu facilities to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday. 

“We are shocked and saddened by the senseless and tragic events that took place today at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and I join the people of Oahu in expressing our profound sorrow for the families that are having to endure this unimaginable pain,” Blangiardi said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “I simply cannot fathom the grief involved in parents sending their young, innocent children to school — a place we should all consider safe and sacred for our keiki — and having it be for the final time. Our hearts and our deepest sympathies go out to the families in Texas that had so much taken from them today.”

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono invoked the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Dec. 2012, in which 20 children and six adults were shot to death, in once again calling for new national gun control legislation. 

“I’m horrified and heartbroken for the Uvalde community and our nation,” she posted on Facebook. “It’s been nearly 10 years since Sandy Hook, and still, our children are getting gunned down in our schools. What is it going to take for Republicans to find the basic decency to help us end this nightmare?”

U.S. Rep Kai Kahele and his wife Maria posted a more personal reaction to the Tuesday’s events, writing “It would be our worst nightmare to have dropped our daughters off at school only to never see them again. We are gutted & devastated for the families, students and faculty in this Texas community.”

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino posted his statement to the Maui County Facebook page, accompanied by a video of the flags fronting the Kalana O Maui building flying at half-staff. "Today we learned of yet another senseless act of gun violence in the nation. The death toll from the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, is now up to 18 children and 3 adults, with others hospitalized for severe injuries. Like so many in our community, I feel disgusted, angry, and very, very sad."

"I ask the people of Maui County to keep the victims, their families, friends and neighbors in your prayers. Joycelyn and I join you in asking God to comfort everyone in the Uvalde community during this terrible time."

Meanwhile, Deborah Zysman of the Hawaii Children’s Action Network, a nonprofit children’s advocacy organization, expressed heartbreak at the news and noted that Tuesday’s massacre was at least the 30th mass shooting to occur at a K-12 school in 2022, according to statistics compiled by CNN.

“Ending this violence will take all of us,” she said. “We need everyone to step up and take action — even us in Hawaii. Keep up the pressure by donating to groups like Moms Demand Action that are fighting to get politicians into office who will finally pass the gun safety laws we need. HCAN is also here to help any parents or community members who want to get involved and create a positive impact in their communities."

Zysman invited parents who want to get involved to contact HCAN at info@hawaii-can.org.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.