U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is on Oahu this week, taking in a full slate of events but also taking time to formally announce his upcoming bid for re-election.

Inouye plans to make the announcement tomorrow night at an event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village before some 2,000 elected officials, community leaders, volunteers and other supporters, according to a news release.

The senior senator and Democratic Party stalwart is seeking his ninth six-year term to the Senate—a term that, if completed, would take him through his 92nd birthday.

Inouye is the second highest-ranking member of the Senate, behind U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and is chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. He also is a senior member of the Commerce, Rules and Indian Affairs committees.

Although Republicans both nationally and locally have pointed to recent party victories in Massachusetts, Virginia and New Jersey as a sign of voter dissatisfaction with the current Democratic majority in Congress, Inouye would be considered a virtual lock to win another term.

“;I can't imagine it being an issue for him”; said Neal Milner, a University of Hawaii political scientist. “;It's more about his age and whether he stays healthy than it is about any incumbent backlash.”;

Erin Kealoha, a state GOP spokeswoman, said it was too early to comment on whether the party would be fielding a candidate to face Inouye.

In 2004 Inouye won re-election with 73 percent of the vote, compared with 20 percent for GOP challenger Cam Cavasso.

“;It's a pretty small pool of people who are serious Republican candidates (who would) have a shot at it,”; said Milner. “;The first one that comes to mind is Gov. Lingle, but she's not saying anything.”;

Lingle has insisted she is concentrating on her final year in office and is not a candidate for another office.

State Republican Party Chairman Jonah Kaauwai said, “;Sen. Inouye has become increasingly disconnected from Hawaii. Rather than fighting for the people of Hawaii on important issues like job creation and education, Sen. Inouye is the cheerleader for whatever is on the Democrats' binge spending agenda.”;

Meanwhile, Inouye has packed his schedule for much of his time on Oahu this week.

Today he is scheduled to attend the dedication of the U.S. Pacific Command's Pacific Warfighting Center on Ford Island and a Hawaiian blessing for Phase I of the USS Arizona Visitor Center at Pearl Harbor. He also is the keynote speaker at the 2010 Hawaii Community Foundation's Non-Profit Board Leadership Conference being held at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Yesterday he attended a pair of events in Kahuku.

Inouye also took time to enjoy a strawberry shave ice from Matsumoto's on the North Shore, according to his Twitter feed.