Groundbreaking for the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday.
The ceremony will be at the site of the long-envisioned center at the corner of Ponahawai and Komohana streets in Hilo.
“There’s no way we can clear that whole parcel right now,” Marlene Hapai, president and executive director of the center, said last month. “But we’ll take a little section, and someone is helping to prepare it, turn a little ground and do our ceremony there.”
According to Hapai, the center is close to signing a contract with Keaau-based general contractor Heartwood Pacific.
“We’re at the point right now where we have a $1.2 million proposal … for the site work,” Hapai said. “And right from the beginning, we realized that particular property, going down that hill … is not a good place to build. So, for everyone building there — and there are a number of professional buildings — it is expensive.”
The land was donated for the center in 2016 by Frank DeLuz III, a former County Council member. DeLuz died in 2020 at age 86.
“We’ve thought of other options, but the view from that property is so beautiful,” Hapai said. “We’re all in love with Hilo Bay and the view, and it’s all about the Portuguese emigrating by ship. So, it’s part of the whole story.”
The center is being funded by a a $1 million grant-in-aid the group received in 2016, plus more than $300,000 from fundraising and $150,000 in capital improvement money released in November 2021 by Gov. David Ige.
Hapai told the Tribune-Herald in June a construction contract had to be signed and submitted on a tight deadline at that time. She now says that was a miscommunication, and the $150,000 released by Ige is secure.
However, the project lost out on a $200,000 grant-in-aid from the state in 2018.
“The state let it lapse,” she said. “We told them we were shovel-ready. We were only 14% from our goal, so as far as we were concerned, we were ready. Let’s go. But that’s when COVID hit, and the state was struggling, and they were looking for any kind of money. I’m sure ours wasn’t the only grant they let lapse.”
Hapai said she’ll seek to have those funds reinstated.
“So, we’re asking — nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she said. “If it happens, it would be wonderful, but we’ll see what happens.”
A Pahoa woman, Theresa Perreira Zendejas, willed her home and property to the center before she died of cancer.
“I think we’re finally through all the legal hoops so we can put it on the market,” said Hapai. “Depending on what the house goes for, we’re between $150,000 $400,000 from what we need.”
With money tight, inflation high, and the Portuguese chamber already looking at scaled-back plans from the facility they originally envisioned, one essential element that isn’t draining the group’s finances is the architect, Blaise Caldeira.
“He’s doing it pro bono. Like many of us, he’s a professional with skills who is volunteering,” Hapai said. “It’s not as big as we originally planned, but we’ll still be able to hold about 75 people with tables, and we’ll be able to pretty much double that with just chairs. So, we’ll be able to do things.
“It would be wonderful if by the end of next year we have a building. And if not by the end of next year, then the beginning of 2024.”
Saturday is a banner day for the Portuguese chamber. The group’s Founders’ Gala, a fundraiser for the center, is from 5-8:30 p.m. at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii.
The chamber is celebrating its 40th anniversary, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a nonprofit corporation for the cultural and education center, the 95th anniversary of the Ferreira Building in Honokaa, and the 60th anniversary of Big Island Toyota.
In addition, outstanding service awards will be presented to HIPCC charter members Gerald DeMello, Jackie Pualani Johnson, Steven Menezes, Wayne Subica and the late Kenneth Ah Lo.
For tickets or more information, call Jean Alves at (808) 938-9283.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.