31 January 2005 – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs the historic opening of the Binhi at Ani Maui Filipino Community Center last month at Kahukui, Maui, Hawaii, which will provide a venue to further promote community awareness and unity among Filipinos in the area and to help educate younger Filipino-American generations about their rich cultural heritage and great ancestry.

“Just like the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, Hawaii, the Maui Filipino Community Center aims to serve not only the socio-cultural needs of the Filipino Community but as well the entire Maui community,” Acting Head of Consulate Eva G. Betita said.

The grand opening on 08 January 2005, which was followed by the Open House for the public the following day, was attended by Hawaii dignitaries led by Fil-Am State Senate President Robert Bunda, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, Binhi at Ani President Dr. John Wayne Enriques, a number of Sakadas, Filcom leaders and member and officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate.

Founded by Binhi at Ani, a non-profit cultural and civic-oriented group of the Maui Filipino Community Center, the Maui Filipino Community Center is a multi-million dollar project conceptualized in 1986, constructed in July 2001 and completed in October 2004. The Center is the second largest Filcom center in the United States as well as outside the Philippines next only to Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. END
 

/jay