The 1988 United States Senate election in Hawaii took place on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga won re-election to a third and final term.^[1]

1988 United States Senate election in Hawaii

← 1982 November 8, 1988 1990 (special) →

Nominee Spark Matsunaga Maria Hustace Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 247,941 66,987 Percentage 76.55% 20.68%

County results Matsunaga:      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. senator before election Spark Matsunaga Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Spark Matsunaga Democratic

On April 15, 1990, Senator Matsunaga died of bone cancer, leading Governor John Waihe'e to appoint U.S. Representative from Hawaii's 2nd district Daniel Akaka to fill the seat. Akaka ran in the 1990 special election to fill out the remainder of the term, but won for his full term.