Hawaii Governor David Ige has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for longtime Republican leader John Carroll.
The United States and State of Hawaiʻi flags shall be flown at half-staff at all state offices and agencies, as well as the Hawaiʻi National Guard, from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, Nov. 11 – the day of Carroll’s memorial service.
During his political career, Carroll served four terms in the state House of Representatives and one term in the state Senate.
He attended Saint Mary’s College before transferring to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo on a football scholarship. Carroll earned a bachelor’s degree in education at UH Mānoa before joining the Army and going on to serve in the Air Force Reserve, where he attained the rank of colonel. Carroll, a combat-ready fighter pilot, also worked as a commercial pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, and spent more than 50 years practicing law in the State of Hawaiʻi.
Carroll represented Waikīkī, Moiliili and McCully while serving in the state House from 1971-1979. He represented Nuuanu to Diamond Head during his one term in the state Senate from 1979-1981. Carroll was also chairman of the Hawaiʻi Republican Party from 1981 to 1983.
Carroll ran for office 15 times over a half century. He most recently ran in the nonpartisan Honolulu mayor’s race in 2020.