Hawai'i's two U.S. senators have co-sponsored a bill that would honor the late Henry Kuualoha Giugni by creating a Hawai'i -based repository of indigenous teachings.

The Henry Giugni Kupuna Memorial Archives would be established through money granted to the University of Hawai'i's Academy for Creative Media.

"These archives will enable the sharing and perpetuation of the culture, collective memory and history of peoples Mr. Giugni so dearly loved," said Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.

Giugni was a longtime aide to Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, and was appointed sergeant-at-arms of the Senate in 1987. Before that, he served in the Army and saw combat at Guadalcanal, then worked as a police officer and firefighter. He died in 2005 at the age of 80. Yesterday would have been his 82nd birthday, Inouye noted.

"As a top congressional aide and as the Senate's 30th sergeant-at-arms, he was a trailblazing Native Hawaiian," Inouye said. "With the unmatched kindness of his aloha spirit, he mentored many men and women, helping them achieve their professional goals."