13 Facts About Spark Matsunaga

Spark Masayuki Matsunaga was an American politician and attorney who served as United States Senator for Hawaii from 1977 until his death in 1990.

Spark Matsunaga's parents had emigrated to the United States from Japan.

Spark Matsunaga was twice wounded in battle in Italy during World War II.

Spark Matsunaga served with the renowned 442nd Regimental Combat Team and was released from the Army as a captain.

Spark Matsunaga served as a prosecutor and was a member of the Hawaii territorial House of Representatives.

That year, with Hiram Fong retiring, Spark Matsunaga defeated Hawaii's other House representative, Patsy Mink, for the Democratic Party nomination for Senator.

Spark Matsunaga then defeated former Republican governor William Quinn in the general election and went on to serve in the United States Senate from 1977 until his death in 1990.

In 1984, following many years of effort from Spark Matsunaga, Congress passed a bill creating the US Institute for Peace.

For 22 years, Spark Matsunaga presented legislation in Congress for the creation of the position of United States Poet Laureate.

Spark Matsunaga was instrumental in the passage of a redress bill for people of Japanese descent who were detained in the United States during World War II.

Spark Matsunaga was married to the former Helene Hatsumi Tokunaga and had three daughters and two sons.

Spark Matsunaga had prostate cancer at the end of his life; by January 1990, he announced that the cancer had spread to his bones.

Spark Matsunaga later went to Toronto General Hospital for treatment, and died there on April 15,1990, at the age of 73.