[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10867-S10869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE LATE REVEREND DR. ABRAHAM AKAKA, PASTOR EMERITUS, 
                            KAWAIAHAO CHURCH

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memory of the 
Reverend Dr. Abraham Akaka, my brother Abe, who passed away last month. 
Brother Abe, as our family knew him, was ``kahu,'' meaning shepherd in 
Hawaiian, to people of faith in Hawaii. For 28 years, he was pastor of 
Kawaiahao Church, the Westminster Abbey of the Pacific, Christianity's 
mother church in Hawaii. A true man of God, he dedicated his life to 
serving our church and its congregation, while attending to the 
spiritual needs of our people and communities across our State, and 
Nation. In a life marked by numerous achievements, honors, awards, and 
titles, the appellation ``kahu'' best describes Brother Abe.
  He was also a beloved husband and wonderful father to his five 
children, aided in his ministry by his wife Mary Lou Jeffrey Akaka. He 
was a source of comfort and inspiration, a bulwark of strength, and 
font of love for our family, and will be sorely missed.
  Mr. President, I ask that a tribute I offered at my brother's 
memorial service at Kawaiahoa Church be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

Statement of Tribute by Senator Daniel K. Akaka at the Funeral Service 
of the Reverend Dr. Abraham Kahikina Akaka, Kawaiahao Church, Saturday, 
                           September 20, 1997

       Aloha ke Akua!
       Mama Kahu, Mary Lou, Fenner, Pua, Sally, Sandy, Jeff--the 
     family of Abraham Akaka. Spiritual, Community, Governmental, 
     Business Leaders of Hawai`i, our sister States and the World; 
     and friends, all who were personally touched by the ministry 
     of this Man of God, Rev. Dr. Abraham Kahikina Akaka.
       Aloha! I rise on behalf of my family, the descendants of 
     Simeon, Pulu and Kahikina Akaka to give honor and pay tribute 
     to brother Abe. He was truly a distinguished human being who 
     believed deeply in God, our Lord Jesus Christ and the 
     ``pono'' (making things right) as the destiny for mankind--
     those with needs on every level of human existence. He was 
     the Kahu, the Shepherd to all people.
       Words and time do not permit me to tell you of his untold 
     accomplishments. Brother

[[Page S10868]]

     was a mortal being like you and me and was gifted with many 
     Blessings from the Lord that determined his life and mission. 
     He was a channel to all for God's love. He was in the right 
     place at the proper time and had a manner that brought about 
     positive changes to personal lives and our diversified 
     communities. He was constantly working to prescribe 
     understandable goals, even through metaphors, that we might 
     be guided to assuring a productive, useful and positive 
     future for all rather than a future of futility and 
     obsolescence. He held high hopes for the people of Hawai`i, 
     the people of our country and the people of our world.
       As you know, Abe was born in a family whose parents 
     nurtured their children in the Christian faith and lived by 
     the Christian faith. Ma and Pa began and ended each day with 
     a family devotion known as ohana. We thanked God at each meal 
     and had to be home to auau, take a bath, when the ice house 
     whistle blew at 5 p.m. and shortly after dinner we retired 
     for the night. School and church dominated our activities. 
     Sunday was devoted to Sunday school at 9 a.m.; service at 
     10:30 a.m. Pauoa Apana service at 2 p.m.; Christian Endeavor 
     at 6 p.m.; evening church service at 7:30 p.m.; we were back 
     home at 9 p.m. We attended Pauoa School, Kawananakoa School, 
     McKinley High School, University of Hawai`i during the week. 
     As the baby in our family, I was the only one that attended 
     the Kamehameha Schools and served in the U.S. Army during 
     World War II. Though our family was young and close-knit, 
     brother Abe was the one that worked at developing a 
     beautiful body and played the ``Tarzan'' role in the 
     trees. He even caught, from the circular saw, flying ice 
     flakes in his hands to eat like shaved ice. Brother John 
     tells me of Abe, at Akaka Lane, falling into the taro 
     patch on broken glass which cut his arm badly and caused 
     him to bleed profusely. Brother Johnny and sister Susan 
     called sister Phenbe for help because they didn't know 
     what to do. And sister Pheobe nursed Abe through this and 
     many other predicaments during his young life.
       Since Pa and Ma led us, our family recited our memory bible 
     verses, sang hymns, usually recited the 23rd Psalm in 
     Hawaiian, kneeled and prayed and repeated the Lord's Prayer 
     in Hawaiian together, at each ohana. As a result, Abe became 
     a talented singer and musician, along with sister Annie and 
     brother John. Sisters Phoebe and Susan, brother Joe and I 
     trailed behind them. Such was our family life with Ma and Pa, 
     Tutu Kahoa of Pearl City and Tutu Akaka and Tutu Hiwauli of 
     Pauoa.
       Following the Conference of World Christian Youth in 
     Amsterdam, Holland, in 1939, Abe made his decision to educate 
     himself to serve our Lord. How did brother affect people? How 
     did people perceive him? He saved lives by helping people 
     over crucial moments of despair and anxiety by spiritual 
     counseling and financial assistance. He was accessible to 
     help the needs of all--from CEOs to workers--from the rich to 
     the poor--from those in their twilight years to those in the 
     dawn of life. He was truly the Shepherd, a man of God; a 
     visionary (rebel); believed and lived God first, others 
     second, self last; related every utterance to God; extended 
     and lived the Love of God (Aloha ke Akua); was a profound and 
     deep thinker; extremely courteous, caring and generous; went 
     the extra mile; good listener; had a keen sense of 
     understanding situations; gave you 100% of his attention even 
     though he was running to another appointment; prolific 
     writer; expressive composer; a clarity man, made things 
     clear; man of ``pono''; good communicator through speaking, 
     chatting, writing, promptness in writing and sending 
     postcards; grateful man; man of creative expressions in 
     music, oratory, prayer; believed that something new should be 
     blessed and started right in God's hands; very humble man; 
     would not let grass ``grow under his feet''; he moved to 
     build bridges, bring harmony to people and functions and did 
     not let the future lead toward obsolescence.
       Do you know that (to mention a few):
       He was the State Senate Chaplain in 1959 for 2 years.
       His Statehood address was disseminated all over the world.
       He was a UH Regent, 1961-63.
       The Saturday Evening Post wrote of him as the ``Hustling 
     Shepherd'', Aug. '62.
       He received the NAACP Award, 1964 (Civil Rights).
       He was Chair of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.
       He conducted a Service of Thanksgiving for the safe return 
     of the Apollo 13 Astronauts at Kawaiahao Church with 
     President and Mrs. Nixon (Aug. 19, 1970).
       Preached at the White House, April 19, 1970, by invitation 
     from President Nixon.
       He was a notable composer--Kristo ka Pohaku Kihi, 1989, 
     Aloha Ke Akua, 1996, and others.
       He was honored by being given the prestigious privilege of 
     delivering the Prayer in both the U.S. House and Senate. 
     Excerpts from the Congressional Record:

             [Congressional Record--House, Sept. 14, 1977]

               Prayer by Rev. Dr. Abraham Kahikina Akaka

       Ma Ka Inoa O Ka Makua, Keiki, Kauhane Hemolele--Almighty 
     God, under whose mercy and judgment all people rise and fall, 
     let Thy guiding hand be upon our beloved Nation, like a 
     loving carpenter's level, that President Carter, Speaker 
     O'Neill, Members of this House, and all who bear 
     responsibility for the peaceful future of our world, can be 
     faithful in our common stewardship of power, justice, and 
     aloha. As new storms gather about us and our world, help all 
     Americans exercise our puritanical responsibility for the 
     whole social order, fulfill that responsibility in our 
     private and public arenas, and thus give vital moral and 
     political direction to our Nation and the nations.
       Hear O America and planet Earth, the Lord our God is one 
     Lord. Amen.
                                                                    ____


             [Congressional Record--Senate, Sept. 15, 1977]

                                 Prayer

       Mr. MATSUNAGA. Our guest chaplain for today is the 
     undisputed religious leader of Hawaii and, to the people of 
     Hawaii, its social conscience, the Reverend Abraham Akaka, 
     pastor of the oldest church in Hawaii, Kawaiahao Church.
       The Reverend Dr. Abraham K. Akaka, pastor, Kawaiahao 
     Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, offered the following prayer:
       Let us pray.
       One nation, one world under God, with liberty and justice 
     for all.
       Almighty God, our Father, under whose mercy and judgment 
     all people rise or fall, let Thy guiding hand be upon our 
     beloved Nation like a gentle carpenter's level, that 
     President Carter, Vice President Mondale, the Members of this 
     Senate, and all who bear responsibility for the peaceful 
     future of our world may be clear and faithful in our common 
     stewardship of power, justice, and aloha.
       Whenever dark clouds may gather about us and our world, 
     help us and all American remember our precious heritage of 
     faith, to exercise our puritan responsibility for the whole 
     social order, to fulfill that responsibility in our private 
     and public arenas and thus give vital moral and political 
     direction to our Nation and the nations.
       Help us to walk with integrity in Thy righteousness that we 
     may fear no man or media. Let no evil have claim upon us and 
     our Nation. Destroy, O God what is evil. Establish what is 
     good. Let the beauty and glory, the prosperity and peace, joy 
     and aloha of the Lord our God be upon us and our Nation. For 
     Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
       Hear, O America. Hear, O planet Earth, the Lord our God is 
     one Lord. Amen.
                                                                    ____


              [Congressional Record--Senate, May 9, 1991]

       The PRESIDING OFFICER. The prayer will be offered by the 
     guest chaplain; Rev. Dr. Abraham Akaka, pastor emeritus of 
     Kawaiahao Church, Honolulu, HI.
       My brother.

                                 Prayer

       Let us pray.
       God has made of many national and ethnic, political and 
     economic, religious and social diversities, but of one 
     blood--all His children to dwell on the face of one Earth. 
     Almighty God, our Father, as our ancient Hawaiian ancestors 
     found new islands of life and order, sailing their brave 
     voyaging canoes even in the face of deadly storms, by making 
     and maintaining connection with their right guiding star, so 
     let it be with our beloved Nation and with all peoples of our 
     planet.
       Bless our President, our Senate, and House, all who bear 
     authority in government, nationally and locally, that by 
     following the starlight of Your truth, justice, and love, we 
     may help our Nation and all nations gain our right bearings 
     with Thee.
       Let no one play games with the light of Your truth and 
     justice--and thus place our canoe in harm's way. Help us lead 
     our Nation and all nation in turning clenched fists into open 
     hands of friendship and family, in finding together the best 
     ways for sailing our common canoe surely and safely to our 
     promised new space island.
       Let our connection with thy light turn MC2--massive 
     cremation squared, into CM2--creative mutuality squared, that 
     we and all mankind may become one winning crew-sailing our 
     space canoe faithfully with Thee to our New World Order.
       In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord--Adonai Elohaynu 
     Adonai Echod--for the Lord our God is one Lord. Amen.
                                                                    ____


                   Recognition of the Majority Leader

       Mr. Mitchell. Mr. President, I ask the Senate to pause for 
     a moment and note a rare and inspiring event which has just 
     occurred when the prayer was read by the Reverend Akaka, 
     brother of Senator Akaka, now the Presiding Officer, and 
     a Member of the U.S. Senate from Hawaii.
       The people of Hawaii and the Akaka family can take 
     justifiable pride in the service of two sons to the people of 
     their State in two different but honorable ways.
       The Reverend Akaka serves the spiritual needs of the people 
     of Hawaii. Senator Akaka serves with great distinction the 
     material needs of the people of Hawaii.
       We are honored to have Senator Akaka as a valued and 
     beloved Member of this body, and we are very pleased and 
     honored to welcome his brother today and thank him for his 
     very fine prayer.
                                                                    ____


             The Reverend Dr. Abraham Akaka, Guest Chaplain

       Mr. Akaka. Mr. President, I thank the leader for his 
     generous remarks, and I appreciate his remarks, because our 
     relationship in our family is very close.

[[Page S10869]]

       It is indeed a signal honor and a privilege for me to be 
     permitted by the U.S. Senate to convene this honorable body 
     today as its Acting President pro tempore, and a genuine 
     personal pleasure to introduce my brother, the Reverend Dr. 
     Abraham Akaka, to give the opening prayer.
       Brother Abe, as our family knows him; or ``kahu,'' meaning 
     ``shepherd'' in Hawaiian, as many in our community in Hawaii 
     know him, was born in Honolulu 74 years ago. He began his 
     service to the Lord and our people after graduating from the 
     Chicago Theological Seminary of the University of Chicago, 
     with a bachelor of divinity degree.
       He was the pastor of our Kawaiahao Church, the mother 
     church of Hawaii, for 28 years. With brotherly love and 
     family pride, I think I can fairly say that Brother Abe was 
     Kawaiahao Church, and Kawaiahao Church was Brother Abe. He 
     dedicated his life to serving our church and its parishioners 
     and the greater Hawaii, and forgive me for my brotherly 
     pride, but the church will not be the same again without him. 
     In 1964, he lobbied here in Washington, DC, for the Civil 
     Rights Act, was the first chairman of the civil rights 
     commission for the State of Hawaii, and sent leis that were 
     worn by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and his supporters in the 
     Selma, AL, march. He began to organize the Congress of 
     Hawaiian People, Friends of Kamehameha Schools, and Council 
     of Hawaiian Organizations. He served as regent of the 
     University of Hawaii.
       Among the honors bestowed on my brother are honorary 
     doctoral degrees from the Chicago Theological Seminary of the 
     University of Chicago, the University of Hawaii, Illinois 
     Wesleyan University, the University of the Pacific in 
     Stockton, CA, and Salem College in West Virginia. He served 
     as the chaplain in our territorial senate, and subsequently, 
     our State senate. He gave our statehood sermon on May 13, 
     1959, and inspired our Hawaii State Legislature to name our 
     State, ``the Aloha State.'' Following Henry J. Kaiser, he 
     received the Hawaii Salesman of the Year in 1952.
       Brother Abe has been most ably assisted in his calling by 
     his bride of 47 years, Mary Louise Jeffrey Akaka. They share 
     their love with five children and seven grandchildren.
       In retirement, Kahu continues to serve through the Akaka 
     Foundation.
                                                                    ____


 Letter of Condolence From President and Mrs. Clinton to Mrs. Abraham 
                                 Akaka

       Dear Mrs. Akaka: Hillary and I were saddened to learn of 
     your husband's death, and we extend our deepest sympathy. We 
     hope that the love and support of your family and friends 
     will sustain and comfort you during this difficult time. You 
     are in our thoughts and prayers.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Clinton.

       We weep with sorrow because he will no longer talk, walk, 
     eat and play with us. We rejoice knowing that he is with God, 
     with Ma, with Pa, and with members of our family in that 
     Beautiful City of God in heaven--pearls, goldlined streets, 
     river of life. He has left each of us a legacy of his life, 
     his light and ministry to carry and bear here on earth. I can 
     hear him speak in his velvety, soft voice. John 13:34, ``A 
     commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as 
     I have loved you, that you also love one another.''

       A Poem for the Memorial Service for The Rev. Abraham Akaka

     Abe, you are not dead;
     Christ has but set you free.
     Your years of life were like a lovely song;
     The last poignant notes held strong.
     Then you passed into silence, and,
     We who love you feel that grief
     For you would surely be wrong--
     You have but passed beyond
     Where we can see.
     For us who knew you,
     Dread of life is past;
     You took life in its fullest to the last.
     It never lost for you it's lovely look;
     You kept your commitment to God's book.
     To you death came no conqueror in the end;
     You merely rose to greet Christ, your friend.
                                                      --Anonymous.
       His Master said unto him, ``Well done, good and faithful 
     servant; you have been good and faithful . . . now enter into 
     the joy of your Master.''
       i will miss him. He was my inspiration. I will miss his 
     mana` and loving spirit.
       Aloha ke Akua!

  Mr. AKAKA. I thank the Chair very much. I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be able 
to proceed as in morning business for up to 8 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________