Career
He was the world"s longest serving flight attendant and was admitted to the The Guinness Book of Records. Akana applied due to a local newspaper ad in 1949 aged 21 with United Airlines for a steward position. His reason to apply as a flight steward was that " it meant getting to the mainland, which was a huge deal in those days." At this time Akana was still a student at the University of Hawaii.
After joining UA he started flying to the mainland on Boeing Stratocruiser.
His time working for UA was only interrupted by a two-year conscription, where he served in the Korean War. In August 2012, after 63 years of service, Akana retired after a flight from Denver to Kauai.
By this time he had accumulated 200 million airmiles. Akana"s wife was also a flight attendant, but had to quit after marriage.
Their daughter Jean also pursued a career as flight attendant.
