After receiving word of the passing of Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye issued the following statement from his Washington, D.C. office today:

"Like the people of Kauai, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mayor Baptiste. I will truly miss him."

Inouye fondly recalled working with Baptiste on various state projects, including highway and bridge improvements, fighting crack cocaine and helping the homeless.

"Although we were members of different political parties, we were able to effectively work together as partners on many projects," Inouye said.

"The passing of Mayor Baptiste is a great loss for Hawai'i, and especially for Kauai. My thoughts and prayers are with his family," he said.