Akaka, a World War II veteran like fellow octogenarian Sen. Dan Inouye who is running for re-election this year, said he is concerned as a member of the Senate Veterans Committee with "the third R" — retirement — because he wants to help soldiers make a "seamless" transition from active duty to veterans services.

That is just one of several things Akaka still wants to accomplish as Hawai'i's junior Democratic senator, including passage of the Hawaiian recognition bill that bears his name, benefits for Filipino veterans and laws designed to help retain military and other government workers.

Right now, though, Akaka has other things to consider: his Sept. 11 birthday, which has never been quite the same since 2001; recovering from an operation, and his family.

Akaka says he is proud of the accomplishments of his five children, that he wouldn't be where he is without Millie, his wife of 56 years, and he brags a bit about his 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

His strong sense of family came through when he discussed his Senate career and future plans in an interview for his 80th birthday with The Associated Press.

The interview had to be conducted by telephone because Akaka was recovering at home from a skin graft that became necessary after he was struck on the leg by an errant golf ball. The wound, received at a charity tournament in Northern Virginia in July, had failed to heal.

Daniel Kahikina Akaka, known to family and close friends as Danny, has served in the U.S. Senate since he was appointed to replace the late Spark Matsunaga in 1990.

The former educator and Kawaiaha'o Church choirmaster said that, other than his ankle injury, he is in good health. "Before I went into this, my readings for my regular doctors were excellent," he said.

He said he is awaiting word from his doctors on when he can move about again and return to Washington.

In the meantime, his Honolulu office takes a lot of homework to his Honolulu home, where he is recuperating.

"There are many things I would like to continue to work on that would benefit Hawai'i and the country," Akaka said in explaining his decision to seek re-election.

"The Native Hawaiian bill is still pending and is something I will continue to work on," he said. The bill he introduced would provide federal recognition to Native Hawaiians and is commonly known as the Akaka Bill.

But he spends more time talking about his efforts on behalf of the military as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"We have been working on recruitment and retention of military personnel and have concluded some of that effort, particularly building housing for military families," he said.

Seventy percent of military personnel are married, he said, adding that he feels the government needs to take care of their families if they want them to stay in the military.

"Now when military personnel retire," he said, "it takes years to eventually get into the Veterans Administration, and some get lost and never get in."

Reforms are needed so that when they leave the service, "they become part of the VA without waiting until something happens," he said.

He also wants to continue his efforts on behalf of federal employees, working with Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio to attract and retain workers.

"We will be in trouble as a nation when the baby boomers retire," he said. "We won't have anyone to replace them."

He also is working on efforts to set up, expand and maintain national parks, and on financial and economic literacy programs to teach young people to make better decisions on finances.

Push for recognition

Akaka's proudest achievement, he said, is getting the Medal of Honor for 22 WWII veterans of the 100th Infantry Regiment and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, including Hawai'i's senior senator, Inouye.

"The two units had received the most Purple Hearts but only one Medal of Honor," he said. "I thought they deserved more."

Akaka started with 125 nominees, and after five years 21 were approved. After a ceremony was scheduled, Akaka heard about another person who should have been included but was turned down because of a Pentagon policy that a person was not eligible if he did not carry a gun.

"This man was a medic out in the field under fire, dragging guys back. It wasn't whether he carried a gun but what he did."

Akaka pressed the issue and a week before the medals were to be presented, the 22nd person was approved. "I feel good about it," he said with pride.

He also worked to get recognition for the Military Intelligence Service veterans of the Pacific theater in World War II, most of whom were from Hawai'i. However, he was able to get only a unit citation for them.

His biggest disappointment, he said, has been has failure to win benefits for Filipino veterans.

He has been working on the effort since his early years in Congress, but he and others who also have tried haven't been successful. "That's very sad," he said.

"Many Filipino veterans are passing on," he said. "Those in Hawai'i receive other benefits but those in the Philippines don't get anything."

Akaka wants to be remembered as someone who served the people of Hawai'i and tried to meet their needs.