Kawika Crowley
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 |
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.
Early years
By 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
Crowley 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]
Electoral history
| 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
Divorced 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[12] and to have had a history in the Hawaiian Music industry.[13] Crowley committed suicide by jumping off Pu’ueo Bridge in downtown Hilo, on January 4, 2023.[14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Kawika Crowley, Homeless Handyman, Runs For Congress In Hawaii". Huffington Post. September 4, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Handyman hopes to go from homeless to Congress". KLTV. September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBlair - ↑ 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.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "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
- ↑ "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.