The Friends of Mukai Board thanks The Beachcomber for its front page coverage and supportive editorial concerning our wonderful victory in finally gaining control of the Mukai House and Garden (“A big congratulations to the Friends of Mukai” April 13).

It has been a long, hard struggle but in reality, it is the public that has won. We will now be able to fulfill the vision of restoring the historic Mukai House and Garden, opening this property for all to see and appreciate and allowing it to serve, educate and inform islanders and others throughout the country about the Japanese population on Vashon-Maury Island as well as our agrarian past.

We also want to thank the entire island community for its support through our multi-year struggle. We have been very pleased that so many islanders have personally expressed their pleasure over the positive outcome. We are currently busy assessing the structure and property, cataloguing its contents and making necessary immediate repairs. We hope to have the grounds and house open for a public tour in June. Then stay tuned as we plan for a major celebration event late summer or fall followed by a regular open house schedule encouraging the public to visit.

Also, many of you have offered your volunteer assistance in helping with the work ahead of us. We are extremely grateful for your interest, but we are still in the assessment and planning stage and do not yet have a list of tasks for which we need assistance – but we will. Since we don’t want to lose your enthusiastic offers to help, we ask that you visit www.friendsofmukai.org and complete a volunteer form so we can reach you when we know what help we need.

Thank you, Vashon once again for your past, present and future support. We are all very pleased and look forward to the development of the Mukai property into a vibrant community resource – one of your island’s treasures.

— Board Members, Friends of Mukai