President Barack Obama has officially renamed the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikiki as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
The re-designation, included in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law by the President in December, is the latest in a growing list of tributes to Inouye, who died Dec. 17, 2012, at the age of 88, after serving in the U.S. Senate since 1963.
Hawaii’s congressional delegation lauded Inouye’s dedication to public service upon the re-designation of the Waikiki defense think tank.
Sen. Mazie K. Hirono said, "His (Inouye’s) deep understanding of the strategic importance of Hawaii and the Pacific region will live on through this important part of his legacy. Additionally, Sen. Inouye’s record of bettering Hawaii and our nation and the importance he placed on forging and strengthening relationships over a lifetime in public service is something we work to continue."
Sen. Brian Schatz said, "No one understood the strategic importance of Hawaii to our national security better than Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. As an early and strong supporter of the center, he knew that Hawaii was key to our nation’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific region."
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, "Sen. Daniel Inouye was a fierce advocate for Hawaii, and a veteran dedicated to serving our country, ensuring our strong national defense."
U.S. Rep. Mark Takai said, "Sen. Inouye was one of the major driving factors behind the creation of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies. He recognized the pivotal role Asia would play moving forward and worked hard to establish this crucial center to forge trusting relationships within the Asia-Pacific region."
The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is a U.S. Department of Defense academic institute in Honolulu that analyzes regional and global security issues, fostering dialogue between military and civilian scholars and professionals from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations.
A similar institution, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, was dedicated in 1993 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Its mission is to address security issues confronting Europe, Eurasia and North America.
Since Inouye’s death, several groups have sought to name or rename facilities in honor of Hawaii’s longtime senator.
>> In October, Bath Iron Works in Maine cut the first 100 tons of steel for the Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Daniel Inouye, which is expected to be completed in mid-2018.
>> Plans are in the works to name four University of Hawaii buildings or programs after Inouye: the Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education at UH-Manoa, the College of Pharmacy at UH-Hilo, the Allied Health Center at UH-Maui College and the Electronics Technology Building at Kauai Community College.
>> Another plan calls for Inouye’s congressional papers to be stored in a proposed $27.5 Inouye library, which would be built on the UH-Manoa campus.
>> The National Oceanic Atmospheric Adminstration has named its regional headquarters on Ford Island after Inouye. The Pacific Regional Center will house the agency’s offices for the weather service, tsunami warning center, fisheries, sanctuaries and marine operations and enforcement.
>> In July 2013 a lighthouse on Kauai was renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse.
>> Matson plans to name a container ship, which will built in 2018, after Inouye.
>> Inouye was one of 16 Americans, including President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, honored at a Nov. 20, 2013, White House ceremony with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
>> A C-17 Globemaster III, a military transport aircraft, was named the Spirit of Daniel Inouye in 2014.
>> The Hawaii Air National Guard last year dedicated its $43 million F-22 maintenance facility to Inouye, who helped secure federal funding for the F-22 Raptor jets.
>> Also in 2014, the National Infantry Museum in Columbus/Fort Benning, Ga., was dedicated to Inouye, who was the recipient of the Medal of Honor for service as an infantry captain in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
