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A Coming Of Age And A Dream Come True For Hawaii's Filipinos With The Opening Of The Filipino Community Center

by Caroline Ahn

"A lot of time, talent, and energy went into making this happen, from government grants to many efforts by the private sector. It was a true coming together for the purpose of one common goal," says Judge Graulty.

A SPECIAL LOCATION
The FilCom Center is located on the 2-acre site of the former Oahu Sugar Mill in Waipahu. In the heart of the Filipino community, Eva Smith, says the location is a particularly appropriate one. "Waipahu is historically a plantation town with the majority being Filipino. So
locating the FilCom Center there was strategic. It acknowledges the richness of plantation history and
the desire to move forward as a people." Smith
describes the FilCom Center as being a beacon of
life in Waipahu. With Waipahu much like an old town
for Filipinos, Smith believes it will help move the
traditional town forward and bring more life back into it.

Not only is the location a symbolically significant one,
it is also one which makes for convenient accessibility
for people from all over the island. The central location
is not much of a drive coming from nearly anywhere on Oahu. Mililani resident Channon Cruz says, "I'm glad the new center will be near the center of this island. I don't know if it was deliberate but it was a smart move. It
makes it so much easier for anyone to visit without
having to drive too much. I don't think I'm alone in
saying that if it was in town, I doubt that I'd want to
make the extra drive too often."

Judge Graulty says its central location can also give
the Filipino a sense of pride. "The fact that it is centrally located gives the island of Oahu a strong center. Even
if the center was built on the North Shore, Filipinos
would be very proud of it but the fact that it is so
centrally located has a special significance."

This Feature Is 3 Pages Long: 1 2 3


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