David P. "Kawika" Crowley (1952 – January 4, 2023) was a Hawaiian politician who was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the November 2012 election. A colorful and offbeat candidate, he achieved notability as the "homeless handyman" running for Congress. He was the first homeless person in Hawaii – and perhaps any state – to be nominated for Congress on a major party ticket.[1][2] In 2014, Crowley again won the Republican primary race for the 2nd Congressional district in a contested race.
Kawika Crowley | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | David P. Crowley 1952 Japan |
| Died | January 4, 2023 (aged 71) Pu’ueo Bridge, Hilo, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by jumping |
| Political party | Republican |
| Website | www |
Early years
editBy some accounts Crowley was born in Japan as the son of missionaries; by other accounts he was born in North Carolina and moved to Japan with his parents when he was six months old.[3] He grew up speaking and reading Japanese.[1] When he was in 8th grade, he moved to Hilo, Hawaii and learned for the first time to read English.[2] Crowley spent his teenage years and much of his young adulthood in Hilo.[4] He graduated from Hilo High School in 1969.[5] He described himself as a "college dropout with a degree in common sense."[3]
Political life
editCrowley ran for Mayor of the Big Island of Hawaii in 1990.[6] In 2012, Crowley defeated Matthew DiGeronimo to win the Republican nomination for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional district race. Crowley achieved 45% of the vote to his opponent's 29%.[7] In the general election, Crowley was easily beaten by Tulsi Gabbard, who became the first Hindu Member of Congress.[8]
For six years, Crowley represented interests of the Hawaii Bar Owners Association, doing lobbyist work at the Hawaii State House. He was known as "the smoking guy" for his lobbying to repeal Hawaii's ban on indoor smoking in stand alone bars, and was never seen without a cigar.[1] He was opposed to the Honolulu Rail Project and to same-sex marriage.[9] He was a supporter of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, although he had no Hawaiian ancestry.[3]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kawika Crowley | 9,056 | 45.0 | |
| Republican | Matt DiGeronimo | 5,843 | 29.0 | |
| Blank Votes | 5,232 | 26.0 | ||
| Over Votes | 10 | 0.0 | ||
| Total votes | 20,141 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard | 168,503 | 76.8 | |
| Republican | Kawika Crowley | 40,707 | 18.6 | |
| Blank Votes | 9,952 | 4.5 | ||
| Over Votes | 121 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 219,283 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kawika Crowley | 9,094 | 42.71 | |
| Republican | Marissa D. Capelouto | 6,926 | 32.53 | |
| Blank votes | 5,255 | 24.68 | ||
| Over votes | 15 | 0.07 | ||
| Total votes | 21,290 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Tulsi Gabbard (Incumbent) | 142,010 | 78.7% | |
| Republican | Kawika Crowley | 33,630 | 18.6% | |
| Libertarian | Joe Kent | 4,693 | 2.6% | |
| Total votes | 180,333 | 100 | ||
Personal life and death
editDivorced with three children, Crowley lived as a single parent for several years.[2] He was a handyman and painter living in his car. He earned about $15,000 a year, putting him among the working homeless.[1]
He claimed to be a co-writer of the song Hawaiʻi '78[13] and to have had a history in the Hawaiian Music industry.[14]
Crowley committed suicide by jumping off Pu’ueo Bridge in downtown Hilo, on January 4, 2023.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Kawika Crowley, Homeless Handyman, Runs For Congress In Hawaii". Huffington Post. September 4, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Handyman hopes to go from homeless to Congress". KLTV. September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c Blair, Chad (August 27, 2012). "Meet Kawika Crowley, Candidate for Congress". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Kawika Crowley Biography – Project Vote Smart
- ^ Hupp, Ken (August 30, 2012). "Congressional hopeful Crowley stumps in Hilo". KPUA-AM. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Crowley launches mayoral campaign". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. July 27, 1990. p. 7. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "PRIMARY ELECTION 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide" (PDF). State Of Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ Gabbard easily beats Crowley for US House seat, AP
- ^ Kawika Crowley: A GOP underdog | West Hawaii Today, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- ^ "GENERAL ELECTION 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide" (PDF). State Of Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
- ^ "Primary Election 2014 – State of Hawaii – Statewide" (PDF). Hawaii Office of Elections. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ "Hawaii General Election 2014" (PDF). Hawaii Office of Elections. November 4, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
- ^ Crowley, David Kawika. "The true story of Hawaii 78". hawaiiseventyeight.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Former Hilo resident Kawika Crowley takes his U.S. House campaign to the Big Island | West Hawaii Today, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
- ^ "Police Identify Man In Fatal Jump Off Puʻueo Bridge". Big Island Video News. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "Police: Man jumped to his death off Puueo Bridge". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
- ^ "1-06-23 (Update) Police Identify Man Who Jumped Off Puueo Bridge". www.hawaiipolice.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07.