Tributes are flowing in Hawaii and around the Pacific following the death of former United States senator, Daniel Akaka last week on Friday.
Senator Akaka served in the US Army at the end of the Second World War, before becoming an educator and then Democrat politician in 1976.
He was the first native Hawaiian to be elected to the US Senate and he represented Hawaii for 36 years in Congress.
Among his many achievements, he successfully pushed for the belated recognition of Asians and Asian-Americans who had fought for the US during World War II.
He's also known for pushing a bill named after him [Akaka Bill] for almost a decade which establishes a process for US federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
Hawaii state senator Kaiali'i Kahele spoke to Sara Vui-Talitu and says it's a huge loss.
Daniel Akaka, the first native Hawaiian to be elected to the United States Senate
Photo: Facebook
Transcript
KAIALI'I KAHELE: It is such a tremendous loss not just for Hawaii but all of the Pacific. Senator Akaka was an icon. He was someone who just lived his life with that aloha spirit, that really warm warm spirit, that he shared with so many of us. His loss is tremendous as he did such great things in the US Senate for Hawaii and for the Pacific and so his loss is going to be felt for generations.
SARA VUI-TALITU: So he was quite the trailblazer?
KK: Yeah he really was. He was someone that as the first and only native Hawaiian to ever serve in the US Senate he was really passionate about indigenous rights that don't just exist here in Hawai'i but they exist all over the Pacific whether it is our Maori brothers and sisters in New Zealand or all over and where indigenous cultures are always fighting to reclaim rights taken away from them so he was a pioneer in that regard.
SV: So [age] 93 is quite good innings?
KK: Oh absolutely. Talk about someone who lived life to their fullest. Most of us will probably never see even 90 years of age and so for someone to live such a full life and Akaka got to see numerous children and grandchildren and he served like a 30 plus career in the US Congress. He had a great career and lots to be proud of for sure and Hawaii is extremely proud of with Senator Akaka.
SV: Did you get to know him personally?
KK: I did. My dad got to meet him in 1976 and he was one of the reasons why my own father got involved in politics in Hawaii and was a friend of the senators for many many years. And when I got appointed by the Governor of Hawaii about two years ago to the Hawaii state Senate, one of the calls I received just hours after it had become public, was a call from Senator Akaka wishing me congratulations and telling me how proud he was of me and how much that meant to him. He really did take great pride in seeing other native Hawaiians, especially the next generation, the younger generation, be put in leadership roles in our government. Because it was important to him that someone was there to continue all the important work that he had started.
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