Legacy of service

Although unable to win passage of the Akaka Bill, the senator has plotted a path for Native Hawaiians

By Derrick DePledge

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 13, 2012

~~<p>U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was honored by friends and colleagues on Wednesday as a gentleman who embodied the spirit of aloha even when the political climate in Washington, D.C., turned dark and unforgiving.</p>
<p>The 88-year-old Hawaii Democrat, who is retiring when his term ends in January, gave his farewell speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Back home in the islands, Akaka, who is of Native Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry, was recognized for giving Hawaiians a presence in Washington that reflected island culture and values.</p>
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U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was honored by friends and colleagues on Wednesday as a gentleman who embodied the spirit of aloha even when the political climate in Washington, D.C., turned dark and unforgiving.

The 88-year-old Hawaii Democrat, who is retiring when his term ends in January, gave his farewell speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Back home in the islands, Akaka, who is of Native Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry, was recognized for giving Hawaiians a presence in Washington that reflected island culture and values. Login for more...