But House Minority Leader Rep. Gene Ward believes the Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport would necessarily become a world-class facility.

“It may be an incentive to make it look respectable to the level that it should be,” said Ward. “We've got to rise to the occasion, and naming it after Daniel Inouye I think is part of that.”

As a Medal of Honor recipient who lost his right arm storming an enemy machine gun nest in Italy, Inouye is as well known for his military service in World War II as his many decades in the Senate. Ways and Means Chairman Sen. David Ige, whose father served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team with Inouye, hopes any memorial will reflect that sacrifice.

“I think it should be something that is bigger than life, and just naming buildings and stuff like that to me is somewhat limiting,” said Ige. “It should be something that honors that whole generation, and how much they really changed Hawaii for the better.”