Preparation for a special remembrance ceremony in Honolulu for Sen. Daniel Inouye has begun.  Maintenance crews tested out the lights that will shine on the senator's casket as he lies in state in the center of the Hawaii state capitol Saturday.

From 5 p.m. to midnight, the public can pay their respects to the war hero. The Royal Order of Kamehameha will escort Sen. Inouye's casket as it arrives at the capitol.  The McKinley graduate was made an honorary member of the royal order 50 years ago.

"We do have one portion where the cape will be on display, which is a gold cape given to the alii," said Bill Souza from the Royal Order of Kamehameha. "That cape is secured before the ceremony and given to a member of his family, which would be his wife, Irene."

Once the senator's body arrives at the state capitol there will be a short program lasting less than an hour.   One of the people who will speak during the program is Gov. Neil Abercrombie.

For the ceremony, the senator's family does not want flowers.  Instead, Inouye's wife Irene requested mourners contribute to the Daniel K. Inouye fund established at the Hawaii Community Foundation.  The money will help organizations and causes the senator supported.

Hawaii residents don't have to wait until Saturday to honor the longtime lawmaker.  Residents can sign a memory book at the Governor's Office starting at 7:45 a.m. Friday.  The book will also be available during the ceremony on Saturday.