New drugs and surgical techniques offer promise in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer's, tuberculosis, AIDS, and a host of other life-threatening diseases. Animal research has been, and continues to be, fundamental to advancements in medicine.

Despite almost three decades' difference in Senate tenure the two Daniels were born just four days apart. In 2005 Akaka acknowledged in an interview with NPR that the Akaka Bill could eventually result in outright independence:

The Akaka Bill has been supported as a means of restoring Hawaiian self-determination lost with the 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and would include giving up the ability to sue for sovereignty in federal courts in exchange for recognition by the federal government (but would not block sovereignty claims made under international law. During World War II he served in the U.

S. After fellow senator Daniel Inouye died on December 17 2012 Akaka became the state's senior senator and remained so briefly until he left office on January 3 2013. Senate to succeed the deceased Spark Matsunaga.