Honorary Degrees and Awards
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
2011: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers from the Government of Japan for distinguished merit
1993. Philippine Legion of Honor Award
2000. Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from the Government of Japan for distinguished merit
2006. Bayan Rand Grand Cross Award, from the Phillipines
2007. Legion of Honor Award from the Government of France
DEGREES
1942. President William McKinley High School
1950. Bachelor of Arts, University of Hawaii
1968. Juris Doctor, George Washington University School of Law
HONORARY DEGREES
2009. Acta Non Verba, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
1969. Doctor of Laws, Bethune-Cookman College
1971. Doctor of Humane Letters, Chaminade College
1974. Doctor of Laws, Benedictine College
1975. Doctor of Laws, Pacific University
1979. Doctor of Laws, University of Hawaii at Manoa
1982. Received Rainbow Award, One of 75 Distinguished Alumni, University of Hawaii
1983. Honorary Fellow, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1985. Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, Yeshiva University
1985. Doctor of Humane Letters, Hawaii Loa College
1986. Legum Doctoris, Hahnemann University, School of Medicine
1989. Doctor of Law, Tufts University
1989. Doctor of Philosophy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1990. Letters of Laws, Brandeis University
1992. Doctor of Laws Degree, University at Albany, State University of New York
2001. Honorary Degree, School of Nursing Health Studies, Georgetown University
2002. Doctor of Public Administration, Citadel University
2004. Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Humane Letters, Medical College of Ohio at Toledo
2005. Doctor of Public Service, American University
HONORS EARNED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
1960. Received Distinguished Service Award, University of Hawaii Alumni Association
1982. Received Rainbow Award, One of 75 Distinguished Alumni, University of Hawaii
1998. Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Hawaii
AWARDS FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
2009. Presented the Wings of Liberty Award, from Aerospace Industries Association
1985. Received Defender of Freedom Award, Distinguished American Humanitarian, Temple Emanu-El
1988. Received Lawrence Harvey Torch of Liberty Award, B’nai B’rith
1988. Received Lifetime Achievement/Media Award, Association of Asian Pacific American Artists
1988. Received Hawaii Distinguished Citizen Award, Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council
1990. Received Outstanding Asian Pacific American Award, Asian Pacific American Heritage Council
1991. Presented Torch of Liberty Award, Anti-Defamation League
1992. Presented American Israel Friendship Award, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem
1994. Received Distinguished Medal of Honor Award, Japanese American National Museum
1995. Received Distinguished Public Service Award, Institute for Public Affairs Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
2002. Presented the Advocacy Conference Congressional Award from the National Breast Cancer Coalition
2002. Received the Friend of the Coast award from the American Coastal Coalition for preserving coral reef ecosystems in the Western Pacific
2003. Received Crystal Award, A Salute to the Japanese American Leaders, Japanese American Citizens League
2004. Received the Steward of the Sanctuary Award for leadership for protecting oceans and coastal resources, from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
2005. Received Award for Patriotism, National Japanese American Memorial Foundation
2007. Presented the Asia-Pacific Community Building Award for his instrumental role in promoting U.S. understanding and relations in the Asia-Pacific region, from the East-West Center
2007. Received the Champion of Public Broadcasting Award, from the Public Broadcasting Service and the Association of Public Television Stations
2007. Presented the Emergency Nurses Association's Public Service Award for healthcare policy leadership
2009. Received Leadership in Legislative Service Award, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials
2009. Presented the Achievement in Public Service Award, from the Committee of 100