"Senator Inouye" redirects here. For the member of the Hawaii State Senate, see Lorraine Inouye.
Dan Inouye
Official portrait, 2008
United States Senator from Hawaii
In office January 3, 1963 – December 17, 2012
Preceded by
Oren Long
Succeeded by
Brian Schatz
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office June 28, 2010 – December 17, 2012
Preceded by
Robert Byrd
Succeeded by
Patrick Leahy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's at-large district
In office August 21, 1959 – January 3, 1963
Preceded by
John Burns (Delegate)
Succeeded by
Thomas Gill
Personal details
Born
Daniel Ken Inouye
(1924-09-07)September 7, 1924 Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, U.S.
Died
December 17, 2012(2012-12-17) (aged 88) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Political party
Democratic
Spouses
Margaret Shinobu Awamura
(m. 1948; died 2006)
Irene Hirano
(m. 2008)
Children
1
Education
University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) George Washington University (JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Army
Years of service
1943–1947
Rank
Captain
Unit
442nd Regimental Combat Team
Battles/wars
World War II (WIA)
Awards
Medal of Honor Bronze Star Purple Heart European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal Presidential Medal of Freedom
Daniel Inouye's voice
Inouye's speech in criticism of the 1991 AUMF Against Iraq Recorded January 12, 1991
Other offices
2009–2012: Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
2007–2009: Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee
1987–1995, 2001–2003: Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
1977–1989: Secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference
1976–1979: Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Daniel Ken Inouye (/iːˈnoʊˌeɪ/ee-NOH-ay;[1] September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American attorney, soldier, and politician who served as a United States senator from Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012. Beginning in 1959, he was the first U.S. Representative for the State of Hawaii, and a Medal of Honor recipient. A member of the Democratic Party, he also served as the president pro tempore of the United States Senate from 2010 until his death.[2] Inouye was the highest-ranking Asian-American politician in U.S. history[3] until Kamala Harris became vice president in 2021.[4] Inouye also chaired various senate committees, including those on Intelligence, Indian Affairs, Commerce, and Appropriations.
Inouye fought in World War II as part of the 442nd Infantry Regiment. He lost his right arm to a grenade wound and received several military decorations, including the Medal of Honor (the nation's highest military award). He later earned a J.D. degree from George Washington University Law School. Returning to Hawaii, Inouye was elected to Hawaii's territorial House of Representatives in 1953, and was elected to the territorial Senate in 1957. When Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959, Inouye was elected as its first member of the House of Representatives. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962. He never lost an election in 58 years as an elected official, and he exercised an exceptionally large influence on Hawaii politics.
Inouye was the second Asian American senator, following Hawaii Republican Hiram Fong. Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first to serve in the U.S. Senate. Because of his seniority, Inouye became president pro tempore of the Senate following the death of Robert Byrd on June 28, 2010, making him third in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Inouye was a posthumous recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. Among other public structures, Honolulu International Airport has since been renamed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in his memory.
^As pronounced by himself in "Asian Americans Should Run for Office".
^Hulse, Carl (June 28, 2010). "Inouye Sworn In as President Pro Tem". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
^Raju, Manu (June 28, 2010). "Daniel Inouye now in line of presidential succession". Politico. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
^Janes, Chelsea (November 7, 2020). "Kamala Harris, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, elected nation's first female vice president". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
Daniel Ken Inouye (/iːˈnoʊˌeɪ/ ee-NOH-ay; September 7, 1924 – December 17, 2012) was an American attorney, soldier, and politician who served as a United...
USS DanielInouye (DDG-118) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named to honor former United States Senator Daniel Inouye...
Irene Hirano Inouye (née Yasutake; October 7, 1948 – April 7, 2020) was an American business executive who was the founding President of the U.S.-Japan...
This is a list of results for elections in which DanielInouye, a Democrat. He was elected Hawaii's first U.S. Representative in 1959, and was first elected...
he would not run for reelection in 2012. After fellow U.S. Senator DanielInouye died on December 17, 2012, Akaka became the state's senior senator for...
when Abercrombie appointed him to serve the rest of DanielInouye's U.S. Senate term after Inouye's death. Schatz was the youngest U.S. senator in the...
Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court (the others being DanielInouye of Hawaii, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Quentin Burdick of North Dakota...
at-large to Congress from 1900 to 1958. The longest-serving senator was DanielInouye, from 1963 to 2012—he served as President pro tempore of the United...
legislatures. Former Hawaii Senator DanielInouye described himself as "the No. 1 earmarks guy in the U.S. Congress." Inouye regularly passed earmarks for funding...
award-winning one-act play adaptation The Humans. In 2022, he co-starred alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer in Jordan Peele's science fiction horror film Nope...
presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. The keynote speaker was Senator DanielInouye of Hawaii. Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Senator Edmund Muskie...
General Legislation. Upon the death of Senate President pro tempore DanielInouye, a Hawaii Democrat, on December 17, 2012, Leahy became the most senior...
is not related to U.S. senator DanielInouye. Inouye was elected to the Hawaii County Council in 1984. In 1990, Inouye ran in a special election to serve...
defeating Republican former state legislator John Carroll. In 2011, DanielInouye announced that he planned to run for a record tenth term in 2016, when...
the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2007. ^ "DanielInouye Dies". Politico. December 17, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Frumin...
because he joined the Senate a week before Hirono, following the death of DanielInouye, Hirono's three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives make her...
Pierce, and they both listen to the opening speech given by Senator DanielInouye. At Pierce's home in Boston, Miyagi is also introduced to Pierce's granddaughter...
Jack Brooks, Oliver North's attorney Brendan Sullivan, and Senator DanielInouye, the Democratic Chair of the joint Senate–House Committee: [Congressman...
was sponsored on January 21, 1993, as S.J.Res.19 by Daniel Akaka and co-sponsored by DanielInouye, both Democratic senators from Hawaii. The Apology Resolution...
the time, is the fourth-longest in U.S. history behind Robert Byrd, DanielInouye, and Patrick Leahy. At 14 years, Thurmond was also the longest-serving...
20, 2009 President pro tempore: Robert Byrd (D), until June 28, 2010 DanielInouye (D), from June 28, 2010 Majority Leader and Conference Chairman: Harry...
On December 17, 2012, after the death of U.S. Senator DanielInouye, it was announced that Inouye had sent a letter shortly before his death to Governor...
WRAIR has shared a laboratory and administrative facility — the Sen Daniel K. Inouye Building, also known as Building 503 — with the Naval Medical Research...
2011. Guitarist Kenny Inouye is the son of the late former Representative, Senator, and Medal of Honor recipient DanielInouye, D-Hawaii. Identity 12"...
served in the same role on the Committee under the leadership of Senator DanielInouye (D–HI). In 2013, Rockefeller led a push to have Rosenworcel named to...
singer Kelly Ann Hu, actor Carrie Ann Inaba, dancer, actor, musician DanielInouye, US Senator, Medal of Honor recipient Jack Johnson, musician, folk-rock...