The 1990 United States Senate special election in Hawaii took place on November 4, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka was elected to finish the term ending in 1995. He had been appointed by Governor John Waihee in April 1990 to serve temporarily after the death of Spark Matsunaga.[1] This was the best Republican performance in a U.S. Senate race in Hawaii where the Democrat won since Hiram Fong retired in 1976.[2]