Daniel Akaka

Early life, family, education, and military service

Daniel Kahikina Akaka was born in Honolulu, the son of Annie (née Kahoa) and Kahikina Akaka. His paternal grandfather was born in Shantou, Guangdong, China, and his other grandparents were of Native Hawaiian descent. His brother was Rev. Abraham Akaka.

Akaka described Hawaiian as his "native tongue".

Akaka graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1942. During World War II he served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including service on Saipan and Tinian. He served from 1945 to 1947. He worked as a welder and a mechanic and in 1948 was a first mate on the schooner Morning Star.

Entering college (funded by the G.I. Bill), Akaka earned a Bachelor of Education in 1952 from the University of Hawaiʻi. He later received a Master of Education from the same school in 1966.

Early career

Akaka worked as a high school teacher in Honolulu from 1953 until 1960, when he was hired as a vice principal. In 1963, he became head principal.

In 1969, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare hired Akaka as a chief program planner. Akaka continued working in government, holding positions as director of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, human resources assistant for Governor George Ariyoshi, and director of the Progressive Neighborhoods Program.

U.S. House of Representatives (1977-1990)

Akaka was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 to represent , comprising all of the state outside the city of Honolulu. He was reelected seven times, all by wide margins; apart from 1986, when he obtained 76%, he never received less than 80 percent of the vote.

Akaka voted for the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. The Act aimed to stimulate economic growth by significantly reducing income tax rates. It passed the House of Representatives in a 323–107 vote, the Senate via a voice vote, and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on August 13, 1981. However, Akaka voted against the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. The Act decreased federal spending and increased military funding. Despite his vote against it, the bill passed the House of Representatives in a 232–193 vote, the Senate via a voice vote, and it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan the same day.

Akaka voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987. The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.

U.S. Senate (1990-2013)

Elections

Akaka was appointed by Governor John Waihee to the U.S. Senate in April 1990 to serve temporarily after the death of Senator Spark Matsunaga. In November of the same year, he was elected to complete the remaining four years of Matsunaga's unexpired term, defeating U.S. Representative Pat Saiki with 53% of the vote. He was reelected in 1994 for a full six-year term with over 70% of the vote. He was reelected almost as easily in 2000.

For the 2006 election, he overcame a strong primary challenge from U.S. Representative Ed Case, then won a third full term with 61 percent of the vote, defeating Cynthia Thielen.

Tenure

During his Senate tenure, Akaka served as the Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

In 1996, Akaka sponsored legislation that led to nearly two dozen Medals of Honor being belatedly awarded to Asian-American soldiers in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Infantry Battalion. He also passed legislation compensating Philippine Scouts who were refused veterans benefits.

From 2000 until his retirement from the Senate in 2013, Akaka sponsored legislation, known as the Akaka Bill, to afford sovereignty to Native Hawaiians. In 2005, Akaka acknowledged in an interview with NPR that the Akaka Bill could eventually result in outright independence.

The Akaka Bill has been supported as a means of restoring Hawaiian self-determination lost with the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It would include giving up the ability to sue for sovereignty in federal courts in exchange for recognition by the federal government (but would not block sovereignty claims made under international law.) The bill has been criticized as discriminating on the basis on ethnic origin in that only Native Hawaiians would be permitted to participate in the governing entity that the bill would establish.

In October 2002, Akaka voted against authorizing the use of military force against Iraq.

In April 2006, Akaka was ranked by Time as one of America's Five Worst Senators. The article criticized him for mainly authoring minor legislation, calling him "master of the minor resolution and the bill that dies in committee".

In February 2009, a bill was authored in the Philippine House of Representatives by Rep. Antonio Diaz seeking to confer honorary Filipino citizenship on Akaka, Senators Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens and Representative Bob Filner, for their role in securing the passage of benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.

On March 2, 2011, Akaka announced he would seek re-election in 2012.

After fellow U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii died on December 17, 2012, Akaka "took to the Senate floor to speak of Inouye's legacy. He called him 'the man who changed the islands forever.' 'It is very difficult for me to rise today with a heavy heart and bid aloha to my good friend, colleague and brother Dan Inouye', he said. 'It is hard for me to believe the terrible news I received is true. Sen. Inouye was a true patriot and an American hero in every sense'".

Following Inouye's death, Akaka became the state's senior senator for two weeks until he left office on January 3, 2013. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Mazie Hirono.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Personnel
  • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
  • Subcommittee on SeaPower
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
  • Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security
  • Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia (Chairman)
  • Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
• Committee on Indian Affairs (Chairman)
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Congressional Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues (Chairman)

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Congressional Biotechnology Caucus
• Congressional Postal Caucus (Vice Chair)
• International Conservation Caucus
• Senate Anti-Meth Caucus
• Senate Army Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Senate Sweetener Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Senate Oceans Caucus

Personal life and death

Akaka married Mary Mildred "Millie" Chong on May 22, 1948. The Akakas had five children. His granddaughter, Kalei Akaka, has served as a statewide elected official on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees (first elected in 2018).

Akaka died of organ failure at a Honolulu care facility on April 6, 2018, at the age of 93. Former president Barack Obama remembered Akaka as "a tireless advocate for working people, veterans, native Hawaiian rights, and the people of Hawaii. [...] He embodied the aloha spirit with compassion and care."

Electoral history

References

References

1. (2011). "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier". [[Association of the United States Army]].
2. [http://www.docstoc.com/docs/17699842/AP-PRONUNCIATION-GUIDE/ AP pronunciation guide]
3. [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/akaka.htm Genealogy] {{Webarchive. link. (August 26, 2008 from ancestry.com)
4. (October 5, 2004). "NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources". Nl.newsbank.com.
5. John T. McQuiston. (September 17, 1997). "Abraham Akaka, 80, Hawaii Clergyman, Dies". [[The New York Times]].
6. ""The Spirit of Aloha Means Nothing Unless We Share It"—Senator Daniel Akaka (1924–2018)".
7. (January 20, 2006). "Akaka in Congress since 1976 | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper". The Honolulu Advertiser.
8. Ruymar, Lorene. (1996). "The Hawaiian Steel Guitar and its Great Hawaiian Musicians". Centerstream Publishing.
9. Brown, Emma. "Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii senator with 'spirit of aloha,' dies at 93". The Washington Post.
10. (April 6, 2018). "Daniel Akaka, longtime Hawaii senator, dead at 93". Mercurynews.com.
11. Killough, Ashley. (September 1, 2015). "Former Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka dies at 93 - CNNPolitics". CNN.
12. "TO PASS H.R. 4242, TAX INCENTIVE ACT OF 1981. (MOTION … -- House Vote #167 -- July 29, 1981".
13. Rep. Rostenkowski, Dan [D-IL-8. (1981-08-13). "H.R.4242 - 97th Congress (1981-1982): Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981".
14. "TO PASS H.R. 3982, TO PROVIDE FOR THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION … -- House Vote #104 -- June 26, 1981".
15. Rep. Jones, James R. [D-OK-1. (1981-08-13). "H.R.3982 - 97th Congress (1981-1982): Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981".
16. "TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988".
17. "Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State".
18. (April 30, 1990). "Hawaii Congressman Named To Matsunaga's Senate Seat". The New York Times.
19. (September 9, 2002). "John Carroll: Faith shaped a winding journey | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper". The Honolulu Advertiser.
20. (September 24, 2006). "Hawaii's Akaka defeats Case for Senate - politics". NBC News.
21. (April 6, 2018). "Daniel Akaka, Long-Serving Hawaii Senator, Dead at 93". Rollcall.com.
22. (April 7, 2018). "Daniel Akaka, Former Democratic Senator From Hawaii, Dies at 93". The New York Times.
23. Kaste, Martin. (August 16, 2005). "Native Hawaiians Seek Self Rule". NPR.
24. Reyes, B.J.. (January 22, 2008). "Obama would sign Akaka Bill as president". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
25. Carlson, Ragnar. (August 19, 2009). "Nationhood". Honolulu Weekly.
26. Camire, Dennis. (June 9, 2006). "After bill fails, Akaka vows to try again". Honolulu Advertiser.
27. "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov.
28. (October 11, 2002). "Senate Roll Call". The New York Times.
29. (April 24, 2006). "Daniel Akaka: Master of the Minor".
30. Salaverria, Leila. (February 24, 2009). "4 US solons as honorary Filipinos". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
31. DePledge, Derrick. (March 3, 2011). "The right time". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
32. Nocera, Kate. (December 17, 2012). "Daniel Inouye dies".
33. Nick Grube. (April 6, 2018). "Former US Sen. Daniel Akaka Dead At 93". Civil Beat.
34. (December 11, 2018). "OHA Elects Officers and Look to the Future".
35. HNN Staff. (April 6, 2018). "Former US Sen. Akaka, the 'ambassador of aloha,' dies at 93 - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL". Hawaii News Now.
36. HNN Staff. (April 6, 2018). "Obama: Akaka loved Hawaii's people (who loved him right back)". Hawaii News Now.
37. "Office of Elections". Hawaii.gov.
38. "2000 ELECTION STATISTICS". Clerk.house.gov.