U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and his wife, Irene, will cancel events in Hawaii and travel to Boston this weekend to mark the death of Inouye’s longtime friend and colleague, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Inouye, speaking to reporters at his office in the Honolulu federal building, described the Massachusetts Democrat as an optimist who was still working on his death bed. Inouye recalled how Kennedy had called him about 10 days ago in Washington, D.C., to ask him to insert a provision into a federal spending bill.
Inouye and Kennedy were elected to the Senate in 1962 and served together as allies for 47 years. With Kennedy’s death, Inouye becomes second in seniority in the Senate, behind U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.
“People have asked me earlier today, `Who will take his place?’ I don’t suppose anyone could take his place,” said Inouye, D-Hawaii. “However, at the same time, no person is indispensable, and I’m certain we’ll try our best to carry on the mission that he had started in the health reform area.
“It will not be easy, but we will do our best. We will miss him very much. I will miss him.”
Inouye said Democrats will likely use Kennedy’s memory to help push through President Obama’s health care reform plan. But the senator could not predict whether a bill will advance before Kennedy’s replacement is chosen by special election.
Kennedy’s death leaves Senate Democrats short of the 60 votes they need to break filibusters on their own.
Inouye said he would return to Hawaii soon to honor the death of his younger brother, Robert.