A spokeswoman for the nonprofit Tax Foundation of Hawaii, where Kalapa was its longtime executive director, said Kalapa’s family has not disclosed the cause of death.

A spokeswoman for the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner said it had no information to provide about Kalapa’s death.

The Tax Foundation said services are pending for Kalapa, who was born in Hawaii and was a graduate of Punahou School and Northwestern University in Illinois.

Kalapa was a regular presence at the Legislature and Honolulu Hale, where he frequently advised against tax increases that would hurt business, families and tourists. Kalapa’s last column for Civil Beat argued against a hike in the hotel tax.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie had this to day about Kalapa’s passing: 

Lowell worked tirelessly to advocate for Hawaii taxpayers. He had a no-nonsense, unique and independent perspective on government, budgets, and tax policy. … He is irreplaceable and will be missed.

Read as well Denby Fawcett‘s remembrance of Kalapa.

Photo: Lowell Kalapa. (Courtesy).

—Chad Blair