Japanese Cultural Center gets Lingle's kokua

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

The appearance of new friends in high places, supporters bearing large gifts and the resumption of talks with lenders aimed at extending a critical deadline is providing renewed hope that the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i will be saved from foreclosure.

Gov. Linda Lingle is helping to save the Japanese Cultural Center. Advertiser library photo

Gov. Linda Lingle added her name to the roster of honorary chairpersons — a list including U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, former Gov. George Ariyoshi and others — rallying to the cause of saving the center in Mo'ili'ili.

A donor who wants to remain anonymous has given more than $1 million in the past week, said Colbert Matsumoto, who chairs the Committee to Save the Center.

Yesterday, the committee accepted a $75,000 gift from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co. Inc., owner of The Honolulu Advertiser.

Major gifts in the six-week-old campaign have included $500,000 from Makiki Japanese Language School and two $250,000 gifts, from City Bank and Island Insurance.

But what Matsumoto finds even more remarkable than the major donations is the constant stream of gifts, large and small, that has poured into the committee in recent weeks. For example, Lingle kicked in $1,000 from her own inauguration fund yesterday.

"What's been fantastic is it really is a word-of-mouth effort," Matsumoto said. "I know what's happening is people are talking to family members and friends."

Support from industry also is essential, said Lingle, who plans to use her position to beat the drum for more gifts from the business community. "I will spend my next few days encouraging them to help in this effort," she said.

She acknowledged Advertiser president and publisher Mike Fisch, present at the announcement, for setting an example with the Gannett Foundation donation.

"The Gannett Foundation and The Honolulu Advertiser believe in the cultural mission of the Japanese Cultural Center," Fisch said. "Our gift is in the spirit of assisting the Japanese community in preserving an important part of their cultural heritage in Hawai'i. We look forward to continuing to support the programs of the Japanese Cultural Center in the years ahead."

Yesterday's update marks a substantial fund-raising leap since Dec. 10, when the committee reported a collection total of $2.5 million. Matsumoto said the momentum has helped to draw lenders back to negotiations, adding that talks aimed at extending the Dec. 31 deadline resumed last week.

"The Japanese community in Hawai'i is very well known as a community willing to make sacrifices for the good of the entire community," Lingle said. "That is what we are asking today: that the community, regardless of ethnic background, come forward so that the center is able to live on."

One of Lingle's fellow honorary chairpersons, the Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, said he feels encouraged by what the sudden reversal of fortunes signifies. "I was wondering whether this might be the way we are here: Hawai'i-style, laid back," Fujitani said. "We have been quite complacent about valuable things that ought to be saved.

"Seeing young people getting involved — like Colbert, like Donn Ariyoshi (committee member and the former governor's son) — these guys are saying it's important.

"I'm very happy that this crisis has created this positive response."

For information about making a donation, call Walter Tagawa at 737-4339, Ext. 224; or Dr. Albert Miyasato at 595-4574. Checks (with the notation Save the Center) should be made payable to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii and mailed to Committee to Save the Center, 3660 Wai'alae Ave., Suite 301, Honolulu, HI 96816.