The late former U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka will lie in state at the Capitol rotunda prior to his memorial services next month.
Akaka died April 6 at the age of 93.
He had served in Washington for more than 3-1/2 decades. The first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, he was a strong advocate for Native Hawaiians and veterans during a political career that started in the House of Representatives in 1976 and ended in the U.S. Senate in 2013.
The family is requesting no flowers. Here’s the schedule for services:
State Capitol rotunda
Akaka will lie in state in the state Capitol rotunda for 24 hours, from 10 a.m. May 18 until 10 a.m. May 19. Open to the public.
>> Casket will be escorted by the military honor guards to the Capitol rotunda at 10 a.m. May 18.
>> A brief prayer service with music and speakers will take place at 6 p.m. May 18.
>> Shortly after 10 a.m. May 19, Akaka’s casket will leave the Capitol for Kawaiaha‘o Church.
Kawaiaha‘o Church
A celebration of life service will be held May 19 at Kawaiaha‘o Church. Visitation will begin at noon, and the service will start at 2 p.m. Open to the public.
Private burial
A private burial for the family will take place at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl on May 21.
Hashimoto appointed to Maui House seat
Gov. David Ige has appointed Troy Hashimoto, former chairman of the Maui Democratic Party, to the state House seat vacated by Joseph Souki, who resigned last month to resolve sexual harassment allegations.
Hashimoto has been executive assistant to Maui County Council Chairman Mike White since 2011. He was Maui County Democratic Party chairman from 2013 to 2017.
Ige said in a statement that Hashimoto would “bring energy and passion to representing” the district, which covers Wailuku, Waikapu, Waiehu and Waihee. Ige added that he has “a keen understanding of the issues that are most important to his community.”
Hashimoto will serve out the remainder of Souki’s term, which ends later this year. Hashimoto also has pulled nomination papers to run for the seat in the upcoming primary election.
Souki had served in the House since 1982 and served twice as speaker of the House during his long political career. Under a settlement agreement with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Souki, 86, agreed last month to resign, pay a fine and publicly apologize for his behavior after several women, including former state Director of Human Services Rachael Wong, accused him of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct.
Hashimoto was one of three finalists recommended for the appointment. Dain Kane, who served four terms on the Maui County Council, and Joseph Wildman, an attorney with the Wailuku firm of Takitani, Agaran & Jorgensen, also had been nominated.
Hawaii island
Seal pup found playing with knife
A Hawaiian monk seal pup named Manu‘iwa was seen holding an orange knife in its mouth Sunday.
Manu‘iwa was recently weaned from its mother on Hawaii island. Staff from Ke Kai Ola, a monk seal hospital, and officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement have been monitoring the pup’s health and growth.
At one point the seal dropped the knife under rocks, and it was later retrieved.
