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The late U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was exalted in a memorial service Friday night as a man of integrity and aloha, a gracious and humble statesman who dedicated his life in service to Hawaii and the nation.
“He truly was a man who lived every single minute of his life full of aloha,” Gov. David Ige told a couple hundred people in the state Capitol rotunda.
Ige was joined by four former governors and top state and county officials in praising Akaka for his soft-spoken compassion, his ethics and virtue, and his drive to work for the people of Hawaii.
In the audience were many former colleagues and elected officials, including the current U.S. senators from Hawaii, Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, who sat together in the third row.
Former Gov. Ben Cayetano said politics is a rough game and that many believed Akaka was too nice to play.
“He dispelled that myth,” Cayetano said. “And he did it by convincing the people of Hawaii that he was in politics not to be something, but to do something. That he was in politics not to get what he could, but to do what he could.”
He mastered the skill of disagreeing with people without offending them, Cayetano said.
“I wish he taught me that,” he said to laughter, and then he added to even louder laughter, “Me and (former Gov.) Neil Abercrombie.”
Former Gov. George Ariyoshi said that when he urged Akaka to run for Congress in 1976, some people said he wasn’t a strong candidate.
“But I told them all Dan Akaka would have something very few people in Congress would have. He had the heart and the spirit and the love of the people of Hawaii,” Ariyoshi said.
Ige said Akaka’s widow, Mildred “Millie” Akaka, told him repeatedly Friday that her husband wouldn’t have wanted such a lavish celebration thrown for him.
“But Auntie Millie, I just want you to know, this was probably one of the easiest things I’ve had to do, because everyone — everyone — wanted to do something on behalf of Uncle Danny,” he said.
Paying their respects
Earlier in the day hundreds of people lined up to pay their respects to Akaka as he was lying in state in the rotunda.
The senator’s widow, and their sons and daughter, greeted the throng under a huge tent that held a closed casket covered with an American flag and a large portrait of Akaka, as members of the Hawaii National Guard stood watch.
There were hugs, tears and lei-giving aplenty as some of Hawaii’s most notable politicians and government leaders joined in the solemn ceremony along with the Royal Hawaiian Band and entertainers who performed throughout the day, including singers and musicians from Kamehameha Schools.
Akaka died April 6 at age 93 after being hospitalized for months. His political career in Washington spanned 3-1/2 decades in both houses of Congress.
Don and Linda Au of Manoa were among those who gathered at the Capitol to honor the late senator.
“He was a good man, a good man for the state,” Don Au said.
The Aus are the parents of state House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti, who spent a summer working in Akaka’s office while she was attending Princeton University in the mid-1990s.
“That’s how she got interested in politics,” Au said, adding that Akaka “did a lot for Hawaii. Just like (former U.S. Sen. Daniel) Inouye, he’s deserving. All the years he spent in Congress.”
After passing through the viewing line, Robert Decoito of Honolulu paused to reflect, describing the senator as an inspirational influence on his life.
The retired landscaper said Akaka treated him like a son whenever he saw him. He recalled one time running into him celebrating his birthday at Pauoa Chop Suey.
“He said never give up the dream, whatever you do,” Decoito said. And he never did, the man added, retiring after some 35 years in the landscaping business.
Decoito said he never failed to support Akaka at the polls. The senator, he said, was dedicated to the people of Hawaii and seemed to be tireless.
“He was always going, going, going,” he said. “He was so humble. He never grumbled about anything. He never did. We’ll miss him.”
California tourist William Heeres said he felt compelled to see Akaka one last time after following his career over the years. Heeres said he’s been vacationing in Hawaii twice a year since 1987, and he enjoyed seeing Akaka’s steel guitar-playing son, Alan, at various Waikiki venues over the years.
After waiting in line, Heeres said he gave Akaka’s widow his aloha and sympathies.
“I just felt it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Akaka was scheduled to lie in state at the rotunda for 24 hours, ending at 10 a.m. today.
A public celebration of life is scheduled for 2 p.m. today at Kawaiaha‘o Church, with visitation at noon. Ariyoshi will deliver the eulogy.
Free public parking will be available today in the city’s municipal lot (Beretania Street entrance), in the state’s Kalanimoku Building lot and the state Department of Health’s lot. No public parking will be available at the Capitol.
On Monday a private service for the family will take place at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where Akaka will be buried.
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