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Published August 29, 2012, 12:00 AM

Record-breaking flight attendant retires


In this Aug. 25, 2012 photo provided by his family, Ron Akana, second from right, wears a red and white lei while surrounded by his crewmates, including daughter Jean Akana-Lewis, center, at Denver International Airport before Akana's final working flight of his 63-year career. Akana is being honored by Guinness World Records as record-holder for the longest-serving flight attendant. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)

  • In this Aug. 25, 2012 photo provided by his family, Ron Akana, second from right, wears a red and white lei while surrounded by his crewmates, including daughter Jean Akana-Lewis, center, at Denver International Airport before Akana's final working flight of his 63-year career. Akana is being honored by Guinness World Records as record-holder for the longest-serving flight attendant. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)
  • In this Oct. 9, 1950 photo provided by his family, Ron Akana, top row at left, stands at a ceremony with crew mates and the Aloha Week king and queen in Honolulu honoring United Airlines' inaugural flight to Los Angeles. Akana, 83, worked his last route over the weekend on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Kauai, ending his career in the state where it began. Hawaii, however, wasn't his final stop. His destination is retirement in Boulder, Colo., where he has been living since 2002 to be closer to his grandchildren. He spent his first few days of retirement writing thank-you notes to well-wishers. Guinness World Records sent Akana a plaque recognizing him as the longest-serving flight attendant. He's been told he'll appear in the record book in October. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)
  • In this 1992 photo provided by his family, Ron Akana poses in an airplane with his wife Betsy and his daughter Jean Akana-Lewis. Akana, 83, worked his last route over the weekend on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Kauai, ending his career in the state where it began. Hawaii, however, wasn't his final stop. His destination is retirement in Boulder, Colo., where he has been living since 2002 to be closer to his grandchildren. He spent his first few days of retirement writing thank-you notes to well-wishers. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)
  • In this 1991 family photo, Ron Akana poses in his flight attendant uniform with his daughter Jean Akana-Lewis. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)
  • In this mid-1957 photo provided by his family, Ron Akana, third from right, poses with his United Airlines crew mates in new flight attendant uniforms. Also pictured from left to right is Matt Ah Chong, Clem Keliikipi, Timmy Pang, Eddie Takahashi and Roy Miyose. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Jean Akana-Lewis)