Career
The Linnaean Society of London awarded him the H. H. Bloomer Award of 2009. Häkkinen became interested in botany on his travels around the world during his career as a fully certificated sea captain. After retiring, he dedicated himself to botany.
He has made 18 expeditions to Borneo, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
He has published over 80 papers in international scientific journals. The following Musa species have been named in honor of him: Musa haekkinenii, Musa velutina subsp. markkuana. and Musa markkui.