Hospitals across Hawai‘i are dangerously understaffed, and the patients are paying the price.

Right now, nurses in Hawai‘i are caring for 6 to 8 patients at a time. That’s simply not safe. For comparison, as of 2025, states like California, Oregon, and Massachusetts have laws limiting nurse-to-patient ratios to 2 to 4, depending on the unit. That difference isn’t just a number, each one represents a human life.

When nurses are stretched too thin during long shifts, mistakes become more likely: medications get delayed, mistakes happen, and warning signs are missed. Studies show that for every additional patient, the risk of death increases by around 7%

We shouldn’t wait for another crisis or tragedy to take action. Hawai‘i patients and nurses deserve better.

Sign this petition to convince the Hawai‘i State Legislature to pass safe nurse to patient ratio laws that will help protect many lives.