Mililani arts center plan alive

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Organizers of a Mililani performing arts center learned something last year when the City Council criticized their lack of a strategic plan and deleted money for the project from the city budget.

"This has been a dream for the community for so long already," said Edmund Aczon, president of the O'ahu Arts Center, which is planning the center. "Every year we ask legislators to provide the funding for this. But the community has to realize that because of budgetary woes, it's going to be hard for us. We've come to the conclusion that this won't happen until the community comes forward to make it happen."

In May 2002, the council removed the $2.2 million requested to plan and design the center, set for the corner of Meheula Parkway and Kuaoa Street, next to Mililani Middle School.

According to City Council members, organizers did not present any business or strategic plans detailing what was needed or how the center would serve the community.

The center is expected to host plays and musicals, offer art and music classes and provide studios for everything from ballet to watercolor painting. "It's a one-stop for art lovers," Aczon said.

Organizers are now putting together a master plan, including a 750-seat theater, classrooms and studios. If all goes well, they hope to see construction begin within five years, Aczon said.

They are using a $100,000 grant from the city to put together design and fund-raising plans. A golf tournament last month at Kapolei Golf Course raised $10,000 for the center.

A big component will be community input, Aczon said — finding out what residents want and need in a performing arts center.

Residents, artists, musicians and performers are encouraged to attend a May 31 strategy meeting to gather public comment and suggestions.

"The real goal is for the community to help us put together what would be acceptable to them," Aczon said. "It's really a community effort."

Mililani developer Castle & Cooke donated three acres of land for the center. The area is being cleared out and leveled.

The Mililani community vision team had set aside $1.5 million from its budget and $700,000 the city had assigned to the Mililani Mauka/ Launani Valley Neighborhood Board. But the council rejected the project, saying others took precedence at a time when money was tight.

"There were a lot of things (about the project) that didn't make sense to encumber money for something that wasn't fully planned out," said former City Councilwoman Darrlyn Bunda.

Because it was one of the only projects proposed by the vision team, Mililani was denied nearly all its vision team money when the center was shelved.

"They just crossed us out and we lost our money," said Jeanette Nekota, chairwoman of the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board.

Nekota said the center would provide alternative activities and programs for a diverse community.

"People have this false idea that everyone in Mililani plays sports," she said. "But in reality, only a third of the kids play or want to play sports. ... It's real obvious we're not a traditional community."

Bunda said the council did not reject the idea outright, but needed more information.

"I think it's a great idea ... but we didn't know exactly what was going to be involved, how much space it needed, what kinds of amenities it would have," Bunda said.

Answering those questions is the first order of the day for organizers, who will continue to request money from the city and state to build what they feel is an important focal point in a growing community.

"There are really no facilities in Central O'ahu to accommodate people who are really into the arts and music," Aczon said.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at 535-8103 or ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.