Kawika Crowley
Kawika Crowley | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | 1952 (age 71–72) Japan |
Political party | Republican |
Website | www |
David "Kawika" Crowley, born in 1952, was the Hawaii Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in 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 describes 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]
For six years, Crowley represented interests of the Hawaii Bar Owners Association, doing lobbyist work at the Hawaii State House. He is known as "the smoking guy" for his lobbying to repeal Hawaii's ban on indoor smoking in stand alone bars, and is never seen without a cigar.[1] He is opposed to the Honolulu Rail Project and to same-sex marriage.[9] He is a supporter of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, although he has no Hawaiian ancestry.[3]
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
Divorced with three children, Crowley lived for a number of years as a single parent.[2] He is a handyman and painter who lives out of his car. He earns about $15,000 a year, putting him in the ranks of the working homeless.[1]
He claims to be a co-writer of the song Hawaiʻi '78[13] and to have a history in the Hawaiian Music industry.[14]
References
- ^ 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