Roger Hawley's Obituary
One of MAUI‘s renowned characters recently passed and became an unclaimed body at the morgue. However, we were not able to fundraise and collect the body to sprinkle his ashes on this island he deeply loved. Nakamura Mortuary is kindly allowing me to write the obituary. Roger Hawley, a man who was both loved and hated, a man who arrived on the island of MAUI at 19 years old, and without a second thought, miraculously climbed to the top of the Iao needle, and then proceeded throughout the years to get the name, The Walking Man, since he circumnavigated on foot, the entire island of Maui. Roger also holds the record for the fastest time from the rim of the crater, blazing straight down to the volcano's floor. A record, I believe, no one had any interest in setting. These islands called to Rodger, and he enjoyed every part of them on foot. He could draw people in, push people away, piss people off, and cause others to run screaming, as Roger just could not stop talking. He was a collector of MAUI's unique history. The beloved and notable historian, Auntie Jackie (formally Inez Ashdown), shared much of her knowledge about these islands with Roger, and he soaked it all in. Whether you loved Rodger or whether, you hated Rodger. The state is now taking responsibility for turning him back into Stardust. Though we were unable to raise the funds to facilitate sprinkling him where his feet tread on this beautiful Island of MAUI, we are at least able to remember him with a few humble words that fall short of explaining the man who stood larger than life, nearer to 7 feet than 6 feet tall, sporting his classic Abe Lincoln beard and spouting his conspiracy theories in his booming voice. He proved to be one of MAUI‘s characters of chaos. He added color to these islands, for which we will forever be grateful, and may we never ourselves become an unclaimed body at the morgue, a popsicle, waiting unclaimed to return to Stardust. Rodger Hawley, Aloha ‘oe and A Hui Hou. Lynda von Tempsky, RN "The cure for anything is saltwater, sweat, tears or the sea. ~Isak Dinesen
What’s your fondest memory of Roger?
What’s a lesson you learned from Roger?
Share a story where Roger's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Roger you’ll never forget.
How did Roger make you smile?