Portuguese Chamber of Commerce breaks ground on cultural center

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Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Father Clyde Phillips gives a blessing over the site of the future Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center Saturday in Hilo.
Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Marlene Hapai gives a welcome address to the crowd during the groundbreaking of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center Saturday in Hilo.
Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Archie Hapai III smiles during a speech at the groundbreaking of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center Saturday in Hilo.
Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald From left, Brenda DeLuz-Campbell, Maile David, Marlene Hapai, Michael Singer, Tyler Dos Santos-Tam and Archie Hapai III shovel dirt for the groundbreaking of the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center Saturday in Hilo.
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Community members and county officials attended the groundbreaking for the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center on Saturday.

The ceremony was at the site of the long-envisioned center on the corner of Ponahawai and Komohana streets in Hilo.

Everyone celebrated the important step in establishing a space for the chamber to meet and work on its many projects.

The land was donated for the center in 2016 by Frank DeLuz III, a former County Council member. DeLuz died in 2020 at age 86.