Posted on: Friday, January 21, 2005

Veterans center to break ground in Foster Village after 9-year wait

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

A nine-year quest by the O'ahu Veterans Council for a center for veterans will result in a groundbreaking tomorrow in Foster Village.

"Some of the guys involved in this thing — we've always had a joke we hope this happens before we die," said Fred Ballard, a Navy veteran and the council's secretary.

The first phase of the center, planned just off Salt Lake Boulevard, will include a meeting hall, restrooms and some office space, and should be completed by October.

The council has started a drive to raise $1 million, meanwhile, for a second phase with another hall, and a kitchen and dining facility for private events.

Ballard said there is the Disabled Americans Veterans center at Ke'ehi Lagoon and a Navy fleet reserve association facility on Valkenburgh Street.

"But that's about it," he said. "The American legion, VFW, all these organizations are kind of at the mercy of where they can meet. This will be a facility they can call their own."

The O'ahu Veterans Council has about 32 member organizations representing about 113,000 veterans in Hawai'i, Ballard said.

The council received a $2.8 million grant-in-aid in 1995 from the state to design and construct a veterans center, but the money could be used to obtain land. The search for land has taken eight years.

Under a partnership with the Foster Village Community Association, a more than 50-year-old community center on Haloa Drive was torn down, and the new facility also will be used by community residents.

The new veterans center will be built on one acre of land, and two remaining acres will be kept as park.

Lots of veterans, Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona Jr. and Hawai'i congressmen Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case are expected for the 11 a.m. ceremony at 1298 Kukila St.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.