Community breaks ground for Kauai PH Cultural Center
KAUAI, Hawaii — Residents of Kauai held a groundbreaking ceremony for the much-awaited Kauai Philippine Cultural Center in Lihue last March 29.
Hundreds attended the event, including U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who described the center as a place for cross-cultural exchanges that will promote and enhance culture, education and provide social platforms for the island’s multi-ethnic community.
The center would not be for use by Filipinos only, but also by other ethnic groups and members from all walks of life, and offer a variety of programs for both youth and senior citizens to assist them in their transition to life in the U.S.
Kauai’s would be the Hawaii’s third Filipino cultural center, following Oahu’s Filipino Community Center (FilCom), which opened in June 2002, and Maui’s Binhi At Ani Filipino Community Center, which opened in January 2005.
The vision for the Kauai center began in 2010. Led by Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce President Lesther Calipjo, several community stakeholders representing the business community, Filipino organizations, and other non-profits have since worked together to continue fundraising and ensure the project’s completion.
It will be built in phases, with Phase I costing $2 million and Phase II another $3.5 million, according to 2014 estimates.
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