HONOLULU » U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka told a crowd at the Native Hawaiian Convention in Honolulu that it’s important to remember to live Hawaiian values and draw courage from those that came before.

Akaka told attendees in a speech Thursday that they should focus their work on advancing Hawaiian self-determination and self-sufficiency. He encouraged those listening to strive to extend aloha in all they do, saying they’ll find aloha returned to them.

Akaka spoke at the convention for the last time as a sitting senator. The 88-year-old is retiring in January.

He quoted Queen Liliuokalani as saying there was time to save the heritage of Hawaiians and one must never to cease to act because of a fear of failure.

The senator says the queen’s words have guided his conduct and service.