Charles Djou

Djou was born on August 9, 1970 in Los Angeles, California to a Chinese father from Shanghai and a Thai Chinese mother from Bangkok. His paternal grandfather fled Shanghai following the Communist revolution, settling in British Hong Kong.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Chad |date=2014-04-03 |title=Will Hawaii Elect a Republican to Congress? |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2014/04/21711-will-hawaii-elect-a-republican-to-congress/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Honolulu Civil Beat |language=en}}

Djou grew up in Hawaii after his father's employer transferred him there when Djou was three.{{cite news |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/May/26/ln/hawaii5260331.html |title=Djou welcomed in Congress |newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser |date=May 26, 2010 |first=Dan |last=Nakaso |access-date=July 9, 2018 |quote=son of immigrant parents from Shanghai and Bangkok }}[http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/May/05/ln/hawaii5050354.html Hawaii Republicans are pinning big hopes on a Djou victory] He graduated from high school at Punahou School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude. He earned his J.D. degree at the USC Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California. Djou earned his M.A. graduate degree in strategic studies at the US Army War College where he was a resident student and Carlisle Scholar.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Djou is a colonel in the United States Army Reserve.{{cite web |url=http://www.djou.com/notes |title=About Charles Djou |publisher=Team Djou |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623101724/http://www.djou.com/notes |archive-date=June 23, 2013 }} He has taught as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Hawaii and as an adjunct professor of political science at Hawaii Pacific University.

Djou was Vice Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party from 1998 to 1999 and was later named legislator of the year by Small Business Hawaii in 2002, 2004, and 2006. In 2006 he was selected as one of the 40 most promising leaders in Hawaii under age 40 by Pacific Business News, and in 2005 was named by Honolulu Weekly as the "Best Politician" in the state.

Image:House Chamber at desk.color.jpg

In 1998, Djou ran as a Republican for the Hawaii State House of Representatives District 47 seat. He was unopposed in the primary election,{{cite web|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1998/primary/98swpri.htm|title=Elections|publisher=Hawaii.gov|access-date=August 23, 2010}} but lost to Iris Ikeda Catalani in the general election by 190 votes.{{cite report|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/1998/general/98swgen.htm|title=1998 General Elections Precinct Report|publisher=Hawaii.gov|date=November 3, 1998|access-date=August 23, 2010}}

In 2000, he again ran for the Hawaii State House of Representatives District 47 seat. Unopposed in the primary, he faced Catalani in the general election. Catalani faced controversy in the campaign, with allegations that she broke a promise to the Outdoor Circle, a community beautification organization,{{cite news |url=http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/November-2012/The-Outdoor-Circle-Celebrates-100-Years-Beautifying-Honolulu/ |title=The Outdoor Circle Celebrates 100 Years Beautifying Honolulu |first=Tiffany |last=Hill |date=November 8, 2012 |magazine=Honolulu |access-date=July 9, 2018 }} by posting yard signs.Kua, Crystal. [http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/10/31/news/story11.html Outdoor Circle says candidate broke yard-sign pledge.] Honolulu Star-Bulletin (October 31, 2000) Djou won the race with 52.5 percent of the vote to Catalani's 44.2 percent.[http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2000/general/00swgen4.htm Hawaii 2000 election results, race between Djou and Catalani]

As a member of the State House of Representatives, Djou had one term in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 2000 to 2002 and was the Minority Floor Leader. Djou launched a successful campaign to open the State Budget worksheets to the public after being told he could look at the budget worksheets in the committee room but was not allowed to take any notes or make copies of them. The documents detail the budget for various state departments and agencies. He opposed the state "van cam" program launched in 2002 to catch speeders using automated cameras instead of police officers, and successfully campaigned for its elimination.{{cite news |last=Daranciang |first=Nelson |date=11 April 2002 |title=Shutdown of van cams may cost $8 million |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/04/11/news/story1.html |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |access-date=7 December 2019 }}
{{cite news |last=Dubford |first=Bruce |date=9 April 2002 |title=Hawaii Halts Use of Traffic Cameras |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Hawaii-Halts-Use-of-Traffic-Cameras-7130619.php |work=Midland Daily News |location=Michigan |access-date=7 December 2019 }}

In 2002, Djou announced he would run for the Honolulu City Council. He also announced he would move to East Honolulu (City Council District IV) from Kaneohe (City Council District III) to avoid running against fellow Republican Stan Koki.Pang, Gordon Y. K. [http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/05/13/news/story1.html Exodus enlivens Council races.] Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu City and County elections are officially nonpartisan, and any candidate who wins a majority of the votes in the primary election can win outright. No candidate received a majority of the votes in the primary election,{{cite web|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/primary/02swpri5.pdf |title=Open Primary Election 2002 (results) |work=Election Results |publisher=Office of Elections, State of Hawaii |location=Honolulu, HI |page=6 |date=September 28, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018100740/http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/primary/02swpri5.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=February 7, 2013 }} so Djou and Robert Fishman, a former city managing director and chief of staff to the governor, faced each other in a runoff in the general election. Djou won with 51.3 percent of the vote to Fishman's 39.2 percent.{{cite web|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2002/general/02swgen4.pdf|title=General Election 2002 – STATE OF HAWAII – STATEWIDE|access-date=August 23, 2010}}

Djou ran for reelection to the Honolulu City Council. He was unopposed and won the seat by default.{{Cite news | last = Boyland | first = Peter | title = Charles Djou to run for Congress in 2010 | newspaper = The Honolulu Advertiser | date = March 22, 2008 | url = http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/22/ln/hawaii803220350.html }}

In 2002, Djou was elected to the Honolulu City Council, representing District IV (Waikiki to Hawaii Kai). He was reelected in 2006 and was on the council until his election to Congress. On the City Council he was the Chairman of the Zoning Committee, Vice Chair of the Planning Committee and as a member of the Transportation and Public Safety & Services committees.

File:Charles Djou.jpg]]

File:Djou Swearing In.jpg.]]

{{main|2010 Hawaii's 1st congressional district special election}}

In March 2008, Djou announced well ahead of time that he would run for U.S. Congress in the 2010 cycle, seeking Hawaii's 1st congressional district seat.{{Cite news|title=Djou to run for Congress in 2010 |newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser |date=March 22, 2008 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/22/ln/hawaii803220350.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502164701/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Mar/22/ln/hawaii803220350.html |archive-date=May 2, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2017 }} The seat became vacant on February 28, 2010, when incumbent Neil Abercrombie resigned to run for Governor of Hawaii.{{Cite news|title=Special mail election to fill Abercrombie seat is May 22 |newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser |date=March 3, 2010 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Mar/03/ln/hawaii3030351.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419154824/http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Mar/03/ln/hawaii3030351.html |archive-date=April 19, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=February 7, 2013 }} Abercrombie's resignation precipitated a special election on May 22, 2010, which Djou entered. Djou was endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.{{cite news|title= Romney wades into Hawaii special election, raises $1.5 million for PAC

|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 12, 2010|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/20100412-romney-endorse-hawaii.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927111657/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/20100412-romney-endorse-hawaii.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2011}}

Djou subsequently endorsed Romney for president in the summer of 2011.{{cite news|title= Mitt Romney wins Charles Djou primary|publisher=Politico|date=August 30, 2010|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/08/mitt-wins-djou-primary-062253 }} Former Hawaii Congresswoman Patricia Saiki, a Republican for whom Djou had once volunteered as a teenager, was Djou's honorary campaign chair.{{cite news |url=https://www.army.mil/article/71816/from_business_suits_to_combat_boots |title=From business suits to combat boots |date=January 17, 2012 |website=U.S. Army |first=Melissa |last=Stewart |access-date=December 18, 2024 |quote=When I was 16 years old, ... I volunteered for a woman named Patricia Saiki.... 24 years after I volunteered ... Pat Saiki served as the honorary chair of my campaign}}{{cite news |url=https://www.hawaiifreepress.com/Articles-Main/ID/572/Charles-Djou-welcomes-competition-to-Congressional-Race |title=Charles Djou welcomes competition to Congressional Race |date=March 28, 2009 |website=Hawaii Free Press |access-date=December 18, 2024 |quote=Pat Saiki is Djou's honorary campaign chair}}

In the special election, Djou received 39.4 percent of the vote. He defeated five Democrats, four Republicans, and four independent candidates.{{cite web|title=FACTSHEET 2010 SPECIAL ELECTION U.S. House of Representatives, District 1|author=State of Hawaii Office of Elections|date=February 24, 2010|url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/factsheets/fsbo145.pdf|access-date=March 15, 2010}}[http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2010/files/special2010.pdf U.S. Rep District I Special Vacancy Election – State of Hawaii – Statewide] Among the candidates Djou defeated were former Congressman Ed Case and State Senator Colleen Hanabusa, two Democrats who together polled over 58% of the vote.{{cite news|title=GOP's Djou wins Hawaii special election for Congress|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=May 22, 2010|url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100522/BREAKING01/100522028/1352|access-date=May 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525232659/http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100522/BREAKING01/100522028/1352|archive-date=May 25, 2010|url-status=dead}} Djou was sworn in three days later and was in office for the remainder of Abercrombie's 2010 term, serving from May 2010 to January 2011. He was the first Republican to represent the district in 20 years.{{cite news |last=Sappenfield |first=Mark |date=23 May 2010 |title=Charles Djou: How did a Republican win in Obama's Hawaii hometown? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/House/2010/0523/Charles-Djou-How-did-a-Republican-win-in-Obama-s-Hawaii-hometown |work=Christian Science Monitor |access-date=7 December 2019 }} He followed Abercrombie and Patsy Mink as the third person to have been in the Honolulu City Council, Hawaii State Legislature and U.S. Congress, and was the first to be elected to all three chambers before age 40.

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Readiness
• Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats
• Committee on the Budget

Djou had opposed Hawaii House Bill 444 in 2009, a bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples, and supported the federal Defense of Marriage Act. He stated that lawmakers "ignored the will of the people" who enacted Hawaii Constitutional Amendment 2 in 1998.{{cite news |author= |date=May 9, 2010 |title=What he's Djou-ing here |url=http://honoluluweekly.com/story-continued/2010/05/what-hes-djou-ing-here |access-date=March 17, 2015 |newspaper=Honolulu Weekly}}

Djou was one of a handful of Congressional Republicans who voted in favor of an amendment to the 2011 Department of Defense Authorization Bill that would repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" law and allow gay people to serve in the U.S. military.{{cite web |title=House Vote 317 – Allows Repeal of Ban on Gays in Military |url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/house/2/317?ref=politics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531184217/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/house/2/317?ref=politics |archive-date=May 31, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2010 |work=The New York Times}}

Djou supported comprehensive immigration reform and was one of eight Republicans who voted for the DREAM Act to allow immigrants brought to the U.S. as children earn citizenship through service in the military or obtaining a college education and a job.{{cite web |date=December 13, 2010 |title=DREAM Act Passes Congress |url=http://www.therightperspective.org/2010/12/08/dream-act-passes-congress/ |access-date=February 8, 2013 |publisher=Therightperspective.org}}

On May 28, 2010, Djou spoke on the floor of the House in support of approving the South Korean Free Trade Agreement, which was signed by former president George W. Bush on June 30, 2007.Djou, Charles (May 28, 2010). [https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/162136-djou-calls-for-south-korea-free-trade-agreement-rep-charles-djou/ "Rep. Charles Djou (R-HI) calls for South Korea free trade agreement"]. The Hill. Congress approved the agreement on October 11, 2011.{{cite news |author=Martin, Eric |author2=McQuillen, William |date=October 13, 2011 |title=Congress Approves Biggest U.S. Trade Agreement Since 1994 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/congress-approves-biggest-u-s-trade-agreement-since-1994.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015065235/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-13/congress-approves-biggest-u-s-trade-agreement-since-1994.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |newspaper=Business Week}}

{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii#District 1}}

Djou ran for a full term in November 2010. There was some controversy over the use of robocalling by the Congressman's official U.S. House office, both before the election and afterward,{{cite news|title= Hawaii governor's 'robocall' urges vote for Djou|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=May 17, 2010|url=http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010305180011|access-date=June 16, 2010}}{{cite news|title= Lingle 'robocall' urges voters to choose Djou|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=May 17, 2010|url=http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/94015654.html|access-date=June 16, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Djou camp marshals radio, TV and phone|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin|date=May 18, 2010|url=http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100518_Djou_camp_marshals_radio_TV_and_phone.html|access-date=June 16, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Tax Dollars Paid For Djou's Robo-Calls|publisher=KITV|date=June 16, 2010|url=http://www.kitv.com/news/23928538/detail.html|access-date=June 16, 2010}} but as with all official mass communication between members of the House and their constituents, the phone survey conducted on behalf of Djou's office was approved by the bipartisan Franking Commission as an appropriate use of official resources for the purpose of communicating with constituents.

Djou was defeated by the Democratic nominee, State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, 53% to 47%. Djou was one of only two Republican incumbents to lose a general election in 2010, along with Joseph Cao in Louisiana.{{cite news |author= |title=Who's gone: Incumbents who have lost |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/11/whos-gone-incumbents-who-have-lost-044576 |work=Politico |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=7 December 2019 }}

{{See also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii#District 1}}

File:MAJ Djou.jpg in 2011]]

Djou announced on August 17, 2011, that he would challenge Hanabusa in the 1st district in 2012. A major in the U.S. Army Reserve, Djou suspended his campaign for six months while deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, from September 2011[http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Djou_announces_run_for_Congress_will_deploy_to_Afghanistan_.html "Djou announces run for Congress, will deploy to Afghanistan"]. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 17, 2011. to March 2012.{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/05/hawaii-ex-lawmaker-djou-serves-afghanistan-stint/ |title=Hawaii ex-lawmaker Djou serves Afghanistan stint |newspaper=Fox News |agency=Associated Press |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012}} Djou lost to Hanabusa in the general election,{{cite news |title=Hanabusa defeats Djou for US House |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Hanabusa-defeats-Djou-for-US-House-4017695.php |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |publisher=Hearst Communications Inc. |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2012}} with 45.4% of the vote.{{cite web |url=http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2012/general/elections/results/2012/general/files/histatewide.pdf |title=Hawaii General 2012 – State of Hawaii – Statewide |date=November 7, 2012 |work=Office of Elections |publisher=State of Hawaii |access-date=November 18, 2012}}

{{See also|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Hawaii#District 1}}

Djou ran for the 1st district again in 2014.{{cite web |title = State GOP chair confirms Djou congressional run | url = http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25039404/state-gop-chair-confirms-djou-congressional-run | publisher =Hawaii News Now | date = March 21, 2014 | author = Ian Scheuring}} Although he garnered a greater percentage of the vote in a general election than any other Republican running for Congress in Hawaii since 1988, he still narrowly lost to Democratic state representative Mark Takai, who received 51.2% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2014 Certified Election Results|url=http://elections.hawaii.gov/election-results/|website=Hawaii Office of Elections|publisher=State of Hawaii|access-date=August 3, 2015}}

{{Main|2016 Honolulu mayoral election}}

Djou announced on June 7, 2016 that he was running for the nonpartisan office of Mayor of Honolulu against incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell, former Mayor Peter Carlisle, and at least ten others. In the nonpartisan race, Djou had already received the endorsement of former governor Ben Cayetano, an anti-rail Democrat.{{cite news |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/32165793/charles-djou-to-announce-mayoral-campaign |newspaper=Hawaii News Now |title=Charles Djou announces he's running for mayor |date=June 7, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2016 |author=HNN Staff }} On June 15, Djou announced that retired Federal Judge and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Walter Heen, would chair Djou's campaign, and City Council member Ann Kobayashi, also a Democrat, supported Djou for mayor.{{cite news |url=http://www.civilbeat.org/2016/06/djou-gets-some-democratic-support-in-campaign-for-mayor/ |newspaper=Civil Beat|title=Djou Gets Some Democratic Support In Campaign For Mayor |date=June 15, 2016 |access-date=June 19, 2016 |author=Chad Blair}} With no candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote on August 13, 2016, a decision between the top two candidates, Djou and Caldwell, would be made in the November 8, 2016 election.{{cite news |url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/32752907/caldwell-takes-slim-early-lead-in-honolulu-mayoral-race |newspaper=Hawaii News Now |date=August 13, 2016 |access-date=August 14, 2016 |title=Caldwell fails to clinch majority, will face off against Djou in November }}

Caldwell defeated Djou, 52% to 48%.[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/hawaii-mayor-honolulu Honolulu, Hawaii Mayor: Results: Kirk Caldwell Leads], The New York Times, November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016. Though both candidates supported the municipal rail project, its cost overruns were an issue, as well as Caldwell's alleged interference with the Ethics Commission. Labor group support was split between the pair.[http://www.civilbeat.org/2016/11/its-caldwell-with-52-9-percent-djou-with-44-5-percent/ Mayor Kirk Caldwell Re-Elected Over Charles Djou], Honolulu Civil Beat, Chad Blair, November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.

File:Djou Introducing Pres. Biden at 80th Anniversary of DDay.jpg

Djou served as the Hawaii state campaign chair of John Kasich's 2016 presidential campaign and urged voters before the 2016 Hawaii caucuses to reject Donald Trump.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Chad |date=2016-03-07 |title=Charles Djou: Don't Vote Trump |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/03/charles-djou-dont-vote-trump/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Honolulu Civil Beat |language=en}} In 2018, Djou left the Republican Party, citing concerns with its policies and President Trump's character.{{cite news |url=http://www.civilbeat.org/2018/03/charles-djou-why-im-leaving-the-gop/ |title=Charles Djou: Why I'm Leaving The GOP |website=Honolulu Civil Beat |first=Charles |last=Djou |date=March 19, 2018 |access-date=March 25, 2018 }} In October 2019, Djou said, "It would be fair to say that I'm an independent Democratic{{sic}}".{{cite news |last1=Nakaso |first1=Dan |title=Councilwoman Kymberly Pine enters fight in upcoming mayoral race |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/10/29/hawaii-news/councilwoman-kymberly-pine-enters-fight-in-upcoming-mayoral-race/ |access-date=30 October 2019 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=29 October 2019 |url-access=subscription }} On July 9, 2020, Republican Voters Against Trump released a video in which Djou urged voters to vote against Trump.

{{Citation

| last = Djou

| first = Charles

| year = 2020

| title = GOP Rep. Charles Djou: Trump is Ignorant of Honor and True Sacrifice

| publisher = Republican Voters Against Trump

| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkLJFaYElQk

| access-date = 25 September 2020

}}

Djou is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.{{cite web|url=https://www.issueone.org/nine-new-reformers-join-issue-one-to-fix-the-broken-political-system/|title=Nine new ReFormers join Issue One to fix the broken political system|last=Wirkus|first=Elise|website=Issue One|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

On March 9, 2020, Djou published an op-ed article in Honolulu Civil Beat announcing that he would not enter the 2020 Honolulu mayoral election, though he has accused Honolulu politicians of incompetence in handling important issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/03/09/djou-says-hes-not-running-mayor-calls-out-embarrassing-incompetence-city-hall/|title=Djou not running for mayor, but calls out 'incompetence' at city hall|author=H. N. N. Staff|website=Hawaii News Now|date=March 10, 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-24}} Djou wrote, "while it is clear to all that Honolulu is in desperate need of dramatic change and real leadership, I have come to the difficult decision that I am not the best person to lead this charge in the 2020 election." He said he might endorse a candidate but had not yet made a decision.

In addition to his decision not to run for mayor of Honolulu, Djou announced he was selected to serve in the United States Army War College to complete a graduate degree in Strategic Studies. With his decision to set politics aside, Djou wrote, "completing War College will better position me to assume more significant future roles and duties in service to our country. And unfortunately, running for public office this fall would conflict with this military assignment."{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/03/charles-djou-why-im-not-running-for-honolulu-mayor/|title=Charles Djou: Why I'm Not Running For Honolulu Mayor|date=2020-03-09|website=Honolulu Civil Beat|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}

In 2020, Djou endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for President alongside 26 other former Republican members of Congress.{{cite web |last=Beer |first=Tommy |title=27 Prominent Republicans, Including Jeff Flake, Announce They'll Endorse Joe Biden |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/08/24/27-prominent-republicans-including-jeff-flake-announce-theyll-endorse-joe-biden/ |access-date=2020-08-24 |website=Forbes |language=en}} In May 2022, President Biden appointed Djou to be secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. In August 2024, Djou wrote an op-ed for Fox News praising 2024 Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz.{{Cite web |last=Burris |first=Sarah K. |date=2024-08-07 |title=Ex-Republican sings praises of Tim Walz to Fox News - Raw Story |url=https://www.rawstory.com/news/tim-walz-republican-colleague/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Raw Story |language=en}}

File:Charles Djou with his family.jpg

Djou is married to Stacey Kawasaki Djou, a Japanese American. They have three children. His surname is a French transliteration of the Chinese surname Zhou.{{cite web |url=http://www.djou.com/notes/Notes_Home |title=About Charles – Team Djou |work=Team Djou |publisher=Djou for Hawaii |location=Honolulu, HI, USA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106041136/http://www.djou.com/notes/Notes_Home |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2013 }} This originates from his grandfather's work at a French engineering company in Shanghai in the 1920s, where he was referred to as "Dijou", a name he later wrote on his immigration papers.

Djou was on the board of directors of the American Lung Association and a member of the Neighborhood Board. He is a member of the Young Business Roundtable, the Rotary Club, and the Hawaii Telecommunications Association.

Since 2010, Djou has contributed op-ed articles as a writer for Honolulu Civil Beat, a local nonprofit journalism website.{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilbeat.org/author/charles-djou/|title=Charles Djou|website=Honolulu Civil Beat|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}

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• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress

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• {{Official website|http://www.djou.com|name=Charles Djou for Congress}}
• {{C-SPAN|9267955}}
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{{Hawaii Representatives}}

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Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Hawaii politicians

Category:21st-century Asian-American politicians

Category:American military personnel of Chinese descent

Category:American people of Thai descent

Category:Asian American and Pacific Islander state legislators in Hawaii

Category:City council members of Asian descent

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives of Asian descent

Category:Asian conservatism in the United States

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States elections

Category:Hawaii independents

Category:Hawaii Pacific University faculty

Category:Hawaii politicians of Chinese descent

Category:Honolulu City Council members

Category:Members of the United States Congress of Chinese descent

Category:Military personnel from California

Category:Never Trump movement

Category:Politicians from Los Angeles

Category:Punahou School alumni

Category:Republican Party members of the Hawaii House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Hawaii

Category:United States Army colonels

Category:United States Army reservists

Category:United States Army War College alumni

Category:University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu faculty

Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:USC Gould School of Law alumni

Category:Wharton School alumni

Category:William S. Richardson School of Law faculty

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:20th-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature

Category:21st-century members of the Hawaii State Legislature