The United States Institute of Peace is deeply saddened by the loss of former Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka, who died on April 6 at the age of 93. He was a longtime champion of the United States Institute of Peace, supporting its annual funding from Congress and his advocacy for USIP enabled the Institute to sustain its global peacebuilding efforts and establish its permanent headquarters.

Senators Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye, and Ted Stevens
Senators Daniel Akaka, Daniel Inouye, and Ted Stevens

“Senator Akaka was an early and steadfast proponent of USIP and its vision of a world free from violent conflict,” said USIP President Nancy Lindborg. “Like his Hawaiian colleagues in the Senate, Spark Matsunaga and Daniel Inouye, Senator Akaka was committed to protecting America’s security through peacebuilding. His diligent leadership and wisdom will be missed, but his legacy will live on in the Institute’s work.”

Senator Akaka, a World War II veteran, represented Hawaii in Congress for 36 years and sponsored legislation that led to the belated recognition of the contributions of Asians and Asian-Americans who fought for the U.S in the war. He was first elected to the House in 1976 and was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in 1990 caused by the death of Spark Matsunaga, who led Congress—along with Senator Mark Hatfield—in the passage of the United State Institute of Peace Act. A regular supporter of the Institute’s annual budget request, Senator Akaka recognized USIP’s work as “vital” while speaking before Congress in 2009.

He was the first native Hawaiian to serve in the U.S. Senate and was widely known as an advocate for veterans’ affair and as a dedicated supporter of the rights of Native Hawaiians, serving as chairman of both the Committee on Veteran Affairs and its Committee on Indian affairs.

Senator Akaka is survived by his wife, Mary Mildred Chong, five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren

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