Sparky: Warrior, Peacemaker, Poet, Patriot

U.S. Senator Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawai‘i paved the way for Asian-Americans in national politics. Meticulously researched and written by Richard Halloran, Sparky traces Matsunaga’s life from his humble beginnings in a Kaua‘i plantation camp to his long and distinguished career in the halls of Congress. Matsunaga, a beloved public servant who died in 1990, served in the House of Representatives and the Senate for 28 years, winning up to 82 percent of the popular vote in his elections. This biography covers his education at the University of Hawai‘i, his wartime experiences in combat in northern Italy and his many years in Congress, where he was a tireless champion of civil rights, space exploration, a national peace academy, veterans benefits, redress for Japanese-Americans incarcerated during WWII, and many other vital causes.

Includes 32 pages of photographs of Matsunaga’s family, his fellow soldiers, and his many friends and colleagues in government, including U.S. presidents from John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush

Softcover, 272 pp.
Author: Richard Halloran
Release Date: July 2002