HONOLULU -- Sen. Daniel Inouye (D) is entitled to a large security detail in his new position Senate President pro-tempore.

Inouye inherited the position following the death in June 28 of Sen. Robert Byrd (D) of West Virginia.

Senate President pro-tempore means Inouye is now third in line of succession to the presidency following the vice president and the speaker of the house.

When Inouye conducted a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee at the Hawaii State Capitol Wednesday, a contingent of eight Capitol Police from Washington, D.C., lined the hall and the hearing room. They were backed up by three state sheriffs.

The security officers surrounded Inouye as he left the Hawaii capitol escorting him to a convoy of four vehicles.

Inouye said he was unprepared for the increased security when he took on his new position.

He called the Capitol Police officers protecting him "good people, fine men and women."

Inouye said, "If you must know, 16 people are assigned to me. They go in shifts around the clock seven days a week."

Inouye said his Hawaii office staff has found working with the security detail a new experience.

Inouye said the security officers kept asking his staff Wednesday where they would be going for lunch the staffers realized the officers needed to know so they could go to scope out the restaurant first.

"Because they have to check it out," said Inouye. "They have to case the joint."

The joint the officers cased Wednesday was Zippy's, a humble eatery on King St. near Washington Intermediate School Inouye frequents when he is in Honolulu for chili and rice.

Although Inouye has succession rights as Senate president pro-tempore, he has no additional control over the senate's agenda which is overseen by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada.