Abraham Akaka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abraham Akaka |
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| Born | February 21, 1917 Pauoa Valley, Oahu, Hawaii in |
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| Died | September 10, 1997 (aged 80) Honolulu, Hawaii in |
| Church | Kawaiahaʻo |
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| Ordained | 1944 |
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| Title | Kahu (shepherd), Reverend |
| Spouse | Mary Louise Jeffrey |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Anuenue Akaka Kahikina Akaka |
Abraham Kahikina Akaka (born February 21, 1917 – died September 10, 1997) was an important American church leader. For 27 years, he was the Kahu (meaning 'shepherd' or pastor) of Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu, Hawaii. His family had Hawaiian and Chinese roots. He spoke to his church members in both Hawaiian and English.
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About Abraham Akaka
Abraham Akaka was born in Pauoa, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. He was the fourth of eight children in his family. His brother, Daniel Akaka, later became a United States Senator. Abraham's mother was of Hawaiian background. His father had both Hawaiian and Chinese family history.
Senator Daniel Akaka once shared that their home was very Christian. They prayed, read from the Bible, and sang hymns in Hawaiian. This helped Abraham develop his musical talents. His brother also said that Abraham's interest in staying fit came from playing "Tarzan" as a child.
When Abraham was young, the governor of Hawaii, Wallace Rider Farrington, often invited children to his home. Abraham remembered taking cookies home from these visits.
Abraham's Education
Abraham Akaka went to President William McKinley High School in Honolulu. He then studied at the University of Hawaii. In 1939, he earned his first degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. He continued his studies at Chicago Theological Seminary, getting another degree in 1943. Later, in 1980, the University of Hawaii gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
His Work as a Minister
While studying at Illinois Wesleyan University, Abraham Akaka traveled and spoke for the YMCA youth group. He was chosen to represent Hawaii at a big Christian student conference in Amsterdam in 1939. In Chicago, he became known for speaking and singing in local churches. He wanted to help people through social services. He officially became a minister in 1944.
His first church job in Hawaii was on Kauai. Then, for nine years, he worked with five different churches on Maui. After that, he spent three years as a pastor at Haili Church in Hilo. On January 31, 1957, he became the Kahu of Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu.
The Ukulele Pastor
Abraham Akaka loved the ukulele. He often used it during his sermons. He once said, "According to our faith, we remember that Christ has made this world like a ukulele." On a ship trip, he gave a sermon about people getting along. He compared different races to ukulele strings. Each string is unique, but they make beautiful music when played together.
Kawaiahaʻo Church is a very old and important church. It is located near ʻIolani Palace and the Hawaii State Capitol. This made Akaka very well-known. After the Apollo 13 astronauts safely returned to Earth in 1970, President Richard Nixon and his wife attended a service at Kawaiahaʻo. Akaka played his ukulele during his sermon, with the church choir singing along. President Nixon was so impressed that he invited Akaka to lead a service at the White House.
Hawaii's Official Blesser
Akaka was famous for his blessing ceremonies. A newspaper writer even called him "Hawaii's official blesser." In Hilo, he blessed an old Hawaiian stone that marked the home of King Kamehameha I. In Honolulu, Akaka blessed many things. He blessed animals, new bus fleets, construction sites, and even airplanes. People in Honolulu joked that he had blessed every building in the city!
Hawaii Becomes a State
Abraham Akaka strongly supported Hawaii becoming a state. In 1948, he spoke to the United States Congress about it. At that time, he was a pastor on Maui. He talked about Hawaii's history and the spirit of "aloha." He believed Hawaii had a lot to offer the country. He stressed that Hawaii needed to be a full part of the United States. He said, "We want to belong, truly, entirely, psychologically. We all say we are Americans, but not quite, because we are a Territory. We want to truly belong."
When the U.S. House of Representatives approved Hawaii's statehood in 1959, people at Kawaiahaʻo Church gathered to pray and give thanks. The next day, Akaka gave a sermon. He repeated the idea that Hawaii should be called the "Aloha State." He encouraged everyone to be proud of who they were as the "Aloha State."
Working for Civil Rights
The United States Commission on Civil Rights was created in 1957. Each state has a group of volunteers who advise this commission. In 1962, Akaka was chosen to lead Hawaii's advisory board. This made him active in civil rights across the country. He joined Martin Luther King Jr. on the 1963 March on Washington, D.C. In 1965, Akaka gave flower leis to Dr. King and his helpers during the third Selma Civil Rights March.
Bishop Estate and Kamehameha Schools
Akaka used his public role to support the Bishop Estate. This organization manages Kamehameha Schools. He defended the school's policy of admitting only students of Hawaiian ancestry. He also supported their rule of hiring only Protestant teachers. He spoke out against appointing someone without Hawaiian ancestry as a trustee for the estate.
His Family and Later Life
On July 22, 1944, Abraham Akaka married Mary Louise Jeffrey at Kawaiahaʻo Church. They had five children together. Mary Akaka helped make sure Kawaiahaʻo Church was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1962.
Abraham Akaka had his first heart attack in 1964. He returned to his church three months later for a service honoring Queen Liliʻuokalani. He retired from Kawaiahaʻo Church in 1984. After retiring, he focused on The Reverend Akaka Ministries Foundation. This foundation helps people and groups locally and globally.
He never fully stopped working as a minister. His last activity before he passed away was leading a service at a cemetery in Kaneohe. He collapsed soon after and died on September 10, 1997, from a heart problem. Mary Louise Akaka passed away in 2008.
