HONOLULU -- The Japanese Cultural Center announced a huge fund-raising effort Wednesday in an effort to save the center.

The Japanese Cultural Center provides a link to the heritage of so many of Hawaii's citizens.

The center is a place where traditions are kept alive.

The Japanese Cultural Center is $9 million in debt.

"I don't think the people really grasped the depth and severity of the financial situation and that it was such that it was going to lead to the demise and sale of this facility," said Colbert Matsumoto of the Committee To Save The Center.

The center was close to being sold. In September, they had a buyer, but a committee stepped forward and stopped the sale, launching an effort to save the center.

They have to raise the money by Dec. 31.

"The loss of this facility would be a tremendous loss not just in terms of the material loss but also in terms of the impact it would have in the Japanese community in Hawaii," Matsumoto said.

The group has already raised $1.5 million. The group is calling on everyone in the Japanese-American community, and anyone who is Japanese at heart to help.

The committee to save the cultural center will be trying to raise money in Hawaii, Japan and on the Mainland.

They are sending out 20,000 requests for donations by direct mail. They are going to contact corporations and wealthy foundations for large donations. The group is also launching a public relations campaign.