Daniel Kahikina Akaka

A Senator and a Representative from Hawaii; born in Honolulu, Hawaii, September 11, 1924; attended the public schools of Hawaii; graduated, Kamehameha School for Boys (high school) 1942; University of Hawaii: B.E., education 1952; professional certificate in secondary education 1953; professional school administrator’s certificate 1961; M.E., education 1966; served in United States Army 1945-1947; teacher 1953-1960; vice principal 1960; principal 1963-1971, all in Hawaii; program specialist, Compensatory Education 1968-1971; director, Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity 1971-1974; special assistant, Hawaii Office of the Governor 1975-1976; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1977, until May 15, 1990, when he resigned; appointed to the United States Senate on April 30, 1990, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Spark Masayuki Matsunaga and began his term May 16, 1990; elected by special election on November 6, 1990, as a Democrat to complete the term ending January 3, 1995; reelected in 1994, 2000, and 2006 for the term ending January 3, 2013; chair, Committee on Veterans Affairs (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses), Committee on Indian Affairs (One Hundred Twelfth Congress). Daniel Kahikina Akaka was born in Honolulu on Sept. 11, 1924, the youngest of eight children. His father was of Chinese and Hawaiian descent; his mother was Hawaiian. Mr. Akaka, who lived in Honolulu, is survived by his wife, Mary Mildred Chong, whom he married in 1948; a daughter, Millannie Akaka Mattson; four sons, Daniel Jr., Gerard, Alan and Nicholas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.