I think it's more likely that they did what Katakuri does
That would be the initial guess & totally makes sense,
But Akainu's Comment suggest otherwise, He said "Haki Users..."
This doesn't imply that Akainu dodged imo, cuz if so, it wouldn't matter if They used Haki or not, He simply wasn't Hit,
Instead, it suggests that He counters Haki Users,
Also Awakening is apparently when you Completely become One with your DF,
In Logia's Case, being able to Hit them with Haki implies that only their Body is turning into their Element, while their Haki/Spirit is still there somewhere vulnerable (For example, Haki doesn't work on Prometheus cuz it doesn't Counter Elements, it simply can Hit other's Haki),
So it makes total sense that an Awakened Logia can turn 100% into their Element, there is No "Core" anymore to receive Damage from Haki,
Which is also why Gear 5 Luffy was taking those Haki Attacks from Kaidou, He seems to have Awakening of Paramecia, Zoan & Logia at once,
I mean do you really believe that Awakened Logia Users are gonna have the same Intangibility as likes of Caribou & Monet & Caesar?
And They need to rely on Dodging same as those?
Tbh when you compare Kaidou's Kanabo Attacks against Gear 5 with his Last One, there is a clear difference in Damage,
And conveniently that Attack was used when Kaidou said "Haki transcends all",
Also unlike his other Attacks which are Named as Variations of Thunder Bagua, that Last Attack was a Complete Evolution of it because it's name contained the full "Thunder Bagua", with the added "Destroyer of Death" before it, which another super convenient name, that suggests that Kaidou upgraded his CoC there just like Gaban is explaining this Chapter,
So Overall, i believe only that High Level of CoC can Defeat Abyss Users, Awakened Logia, Flame On Lunarians, Sun God ... etc
(It's probably also what's needed to Counter BB's Darkness, Buddha, Phoenix Regen, Big Mom's Skin ... etc)
