Daniel Akaka nasceu o 11 de setembro de 1924 em Honolulu, Havaí, EUA. Foi casado com 'Mary Mildrid "Millie" Chong'. Morreu o 6 de abril de 2018 em Honolulu, Havaí, EUA.
He was best known for his attempts to win recognition for Native Hawaiians as an indigenous group deserving of the same sovereignty as Native American tribes on the U.S. mainland.