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Daniel Kahikina Akaka was a Senator and a Representative from Hawaii. Born in Honolulu, he graduated from the University of Hawaii with his B.E. in education in 1952 and earned his professional certificate in secondary education in 1953 and his professional school administrator’s certificate in 1961. He earned his M.E. in education 1966 and served in the United States Army from 1945-1947. He was a teacher from 1953-1960, a vice principal in 1960, and a principal from 1963-1971, all in Hawaii. He was program specialist, Compensatory Education, from 1968-1971, and director, Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, from 1971-1974. He was special assistant, Hawaii Office of the Governor, from 1975-1976 before being elected to the 95th and to the six succeeding Congresses. He served from January 3, 1977, until May 16, 1990, when he resigned and was appointed to the United States Senate on April 28, 1990, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Spark Masayuki Matsunaga. He was elected by special election on November 6, 1990, to complete the term ending January 3, 1995, and reelected in 1994, 2000, and 2006. He served until January 3, 2013. He did not run for reelection to the Senate in 2012 and was a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii, until his death on April 6, 2018.