Hirono, Hawai‘i delegation unveil portrait honoring late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye

This week, U.S. senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), along with representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI), unveiled a portrait of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye.

The unveiling ceremony was held at the U.S. Capitol and the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation was joined by members of Senator Inouye’s family, as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Sen. Inouye’s portrait, which will be displayed just off the Senate floor in the Capitol, is the first portrait of a person of color in the U.S. Senate’s leadership portrait series.

“Senator Inouye and I worked together for decades and I was glad to honor his memory and celebrate his life today,” said Sen. Hirono.

“Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was an extraordinary public servant for Hawai‘i and America and it’s fitting that he’s being honored with an official portrait here in the Senate where he was respected and beloved by so many,” said Sen. Brian Schatz.

“In the history of our country only some 2,000 of our fellow citizens have served in the United States Senate, and of them only a very few are honored and remembered in our Capitol for their service,” said Rep. Ed Case.

“Over a decade after his passing, Sen. Inouye continues to break barriers. As the first person of color to be included in the U.S. Senate leadership portrait collection, he continues to be a role model and inspiration, reminding us that government functions best when it is representative and reflective of the people it serves,” said Rep. Jill Tokuda.