JOSEPH — A luau to benefit a planned expansion at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture drew close to 200 attendees on Sunday, June 30, as the center continues to close in on its fundraising goal.

Guests gathered on the lawn of The Sports Corral, near the Josephy Center on Joseph’s Main Street, for an evening of Hawaiian-inspired food, tropical drinks, a live and silent auction. lei-making and other related activities. The event also included a performance by three-time world champion Tahitian fire dancer Joseph Cadousteau. 

The luau, held as part of the Josephy Center’s “Building Our Future” campaign, aimed to raise funds for an elevator and a two-story expansion.

“We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown by everyone who contributed to making this event a tremendous success,” said Dera Stewart, the Josephy Center’s development director, in a press release. “This fundraiser not only showcased the richness of our cultural heritage but also demonstrated our community’s commitment to the future of arts and culture in the community.”

The $1.6 million project includes plans for an expanded ceramics studio to help meet growing demand, a multipurpose room upstairs and an elevator to ease access to the center’s second floor.

Stewart said the fundraising campaign for the project already has raised $1.25 million, including about $110,000 in the last three months. She said the center is waiting on another $150,000 in grants, and said the public still can contribute to the campaign. (For information on how to donate, go to the center’s website at josephy.org.)

Stewart said Josephy officials will meet with Wellens General Contractors and Observation Studio (formerly Linden, Brown Architecture) in mid-July to finalize plans and schedule construction. She said the hope is to break ground on the project this year.