The National Education Association will honor former U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka for his efforts in the fight for social justice.

In addition to Akaka, Pakistani youth activist Malala Yousafzai and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King will receive the award at the NEA’s annual Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner Wednesday in Denver.

Akaka will be presented with the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award for championing, first as a teacher and principal, "culturally competent" education in Hawaii.

The organization noted that Akaka represented Hawaii for 36 years in the U.S. Congress, and in 1990 became the first U.S. senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry.

"He advocated for bringing the Hawaiian language and culture back into the classroom, and was able to create some of the first Head Start programs in the state, serving many of Hawaii’s Asian and Pacific Islander students," the association said in announcing the award Tuesday.

"He also supported the establishment of the Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Anuenue Hawaiian Language Immersion School, K-12. The positive work for his culture continued into his political career, including sponsoring legislation that would become the Native Hawaiian Education Act, enacted in 1988. It creates innovative education programs to enhance the education of Native Hawaiians."