When Kauai native Masako Oda moved to Honolulu, she found more than activities at the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center in Liliha.

“;I made a lot of friends,”; said the 80-year-old, who is a member of the center's ukulele club, attends karaoke classes and is first vice president of the Okinawa Nenchosha Club.

Oda is one of about 2,000 seniors who flock to the largest senior center in the state to attend programs and now fear a possible shutdown of the center for lack of funding.

The center, a program of nonprofit Catholic Charities Hawaii but funded by the state, is home to seven cultural clubs and 50 classes for seniors 62 and older. Many instructors are volunteers. Members, in turn, visit seniors confined to their homes or nursing homes. Karaoke singers and ukulele players, for example, perform at nursing facilities.

Members were notified in a November newsletter article by the board's chairwoman, Mary Sueda, that the center faces a $115,000 deficit by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, because it failed to receive a grant in 2008.

That means the center at 1640 Lanakila Ave. could close on July 1 or sooner, Sueda said.

“;The nearly 2,000 members would have no other senior center or senior programs of adequate size, accessibility nor range of services and classes,”; she wrote.

State Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland said the Legislature had put in the base budget a lump sum amount of about $500,000 and an additional $100,000 for Lanakila and two other centers to keep seniors active and healthy and out of needing long-term care.

“;The Department of Health has indicated, at least to Catholic Charities, they're not going to fund it again in the biennium budget,”; she said. “;That is something the Legislature wants to support.”;

The board has gone to Gov. Linda Lingle to ask her to meet with members to discuss funding and the center's future.

Diane Terada, division administrator for Catholic Charities Hawaii, said it is holding a public information meeting Monday for all interested in the center's future to figure out what needs to be done to continue funding the center. Included among those invited are legislators, members of the center and the community.

She said the problem is “;just the sign of the financial situation that our entire country is in. There is impact on social services.”;

Annie Shimabukuro, a member of the Okinawan club, said the center's activities include hula, line dancing and Okinawan dance. “;It's very important for them and for me,”; she said. “;Once a week you get to see your friends.”;