West O'ahu bowlers stuck without a home since the Barbers Point Bowling Alley shut down at the beginning of October could be hitting the lanes by the end of the year.

Two partners — Linda Painter and Bev Brennan — are scheduled to meet next week with developer Ford Island Properties to discuss the details of a lease that will allow them to operate the bowling alley once the private company takes over the facility as part of a 499-acre transfer from the Navy anticipated to take place sometime in January.

Meanwhile, Painter said, she and Brennan are meeting with the Navy to discuss operating the bowling center until that transfer takes place through a short-term, nonbid concessionaire's license.

The 16-lane, 14,000-square-foot bowling alley has been closed due to the uncertainty over the ownership issue.

"We're getting there," Painter said. "Probably within the next month I'm guessing, although we don't have anything in writing yet."

As many as nine leagues used the bowling alley each week, Painter said. After the center closed, some moved to other bowling alleys temporarily while others shut down altogether, she said.

Representatives from both Ford Island Properties and the Navy confirmed talks are occurring.

Val Lopes heads Kalaeloa's Sunday Morning Mixed League, which moved to the bowling center at Schofield Barracks.

The 15-team league, with a membership of 75 bowlers, is looking forward to returning to Barbers Point and is hopeful that can happen before its new season starts Dec. 20.

Lopes said it's an inconvenience for the bowlers. "A lot of us are from this area," she said.

Besides the location, league members just miss the familiarity of the Barbers Point site. "It's nothing too big, just perfect," Lopes said.

Mary Ann Miyashiro heads the Friday Night Mixed League, which has been on hiatus since finishing up its latest season at the end of September.

The league contemplated going to Schofield too, but decided against it. Like Lopes' league, most of the Friday bowlers are West O'ahu residents. Many work Saturday morning and were reluctant to make the drive home late Friday night, Miyashiro said.

Miyashiro said she expects most of her league will get back together once the Kalaeloa facility reopens.