Japanese center gets
a quick $1.5 million

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

A Japanese language school and three financial institutions have promptly pledged a total of $1.25 million to help offset the $9 million in debt that has put the Japanese Cultural Center in danger of losing its headquarters to foreclosure. The center has also collected another $250,000 in donations from residents, businesses and nonprofits.

Members of the Committee to Save the Center held a news conference yesterday at the cultural center's courtyard, detailing their 47-day fund-raising campaign to raise the money to pay off four bank loans before a Dec. 31 deadline.

"We're facing a monumental undertaking," said committee Chairman Colbert Matsumoto.

Members are also discussing ways to make the center at 2454 S. Beretania St. financially stable and improve its governance, administration, memberships and programs.

The center's debt is owed to Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank and City Bank. If the committee fails to raise $9 million by the end of the year, members hope to raise "a large enough sum" so they can ask the banks for extensions, Matsumoto said.

"We hope that the banks at that point are willing to give us some time if we can show in good faith that we raised enough money," he added.

The Makiki Japanese Language School plans to donate $500,000 to the center, while three financial service institutions each plan to give $250,000. The institutions requested that their names not be disclosed.

The cultural center is an extension of the Makiki Japanese Language School, which promotes Japanese culture and heritage, said school board Chairman George Masunaga at the news conference.

Fujio Matsuda, committee member and a former University of Hawaii president, said, "We all believe in our hearts that the cultural center is an important symbol that we're trying to preserve."

Twenty thousand letters will be sent to residents, businesses and corporations statewide asking for their financial support and their suggestions on how improvements can be made at the center.

Donors can send a check payable to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. Donors must note "Save the Center" on the check to ensure that the donation will be kept separate from the center's operational funds.

Checks can be mailed to the Committee to Save the Center at 3660 Waialae Ave., Suite 301, Honolulu 96816.

For more information, contact committee members Wayne Miyao at 535-2590; Walter Tagawa at 737-4338, ext. 224; Albert Miyasato at 595-4574; and Warren Iwasa at 845-2255.