WASHINGTON -- Congressman Neil Abercrombie said farewell to Congress today. Well wishers and colleagues praised him as he spent his final day in office before moving back to Hawaii to run for governor.

Neil Abercrombie was first elected to Congress in a special election in 1986. He returned to represent Hawaii's First District in 1991.

As he prepared to return to Hawaii to campaign for governor, members of Congress praised him.

“I said in the Armed Services Committee this morning that if I'd known I was this admired, this respected, beloved I would have left earlier,” joked Abercrombie. “It's been very gratifying, and kind of a bittersweet occasion because of the kindness and generosity of my colleagues.”

Abercrombie says he is most proud of his work on behalf of military service members.

"You may recruit individuals but you retain families in the United States military today,” said Abercrombie. He said his legislation helped provide communities and housing for members of the military.

Abercrombie is also proud of his work to protect humpback whales, and his effort to creat a marine sanctuary in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

And he is extremely pleased the Akaka Bill passed during in his last week in Congress.

“I think we've put together legislation that will enable Native Hawaiians to be able to have more than a measure of control over their destiny in time to come,” said Abercrombie.

Abercrombie said he leaves Congress with no regrets.