Groundbreaking held for Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center

From left, Brenda DeLuz-Campbell, Maile David, Marlene Hapai, Michael Singer, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and Archie Hapai III shovel the dirt to symbolize the groundbreaking of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center in Hilo on Saturday. (Kelsey Walling/Hawaii Tribune-Herald)
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Community members and county officials attended the groundbreaking for the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center on Saturday.

The ceremony was at the site of the long-envisioned center on the corner of Ponahawai and Komohana streets in Hilo.

Everyone celebrated the important step in establishing a space for the chamber to meet and work on its many projects.

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.