The owner of the Momilani Community Center in Pearl City plans to build a multimillion-dollar senior adult day health and childcare facility on the site.

The Pearl City Foundation has proposed developing a single-story adult day health building to accommodate up to 80 seniors and a childcare facility to be operated as part of the Head Start program for low-income preschool-age children, according to the final environmental assessment of the project. The childcare program would accommodate up to 40 children. The two structures — estimated to cost about $5 million — would be joined by a breezeway and built on a field on the lower part of the property.

The foundation saw a "great need" for the senior day health center — which would also provide medical care — as well as for early education in the community, said Breene Harimoto, executive director of the Pearl City Foundation. Both the senior and childcare center would be open to people who live beyond Pearl City as well.

Such programs are vital for the Pearl City community, which has not only an aging population but multiple generations living in homes, said Pearl City Neighborhood Board chairman Albert Fukushima.

"Any adult or childcare facility in Pearl City is sorely needed," he said.

Harimoto said the foundation, which was awarded $1 million by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through a community development block grant, is seeking other public and private money for the project. No target construction date has been finalized, although work may begin in one to two years, he said.

The proposed project includes off-street parking for 19 vehicles, including one accessible van stall, as well as another parking area of 11 stalls to be built off Komo Mai Drive in the site's eastern corner, according to the environmental assessment.

The foundation also has plans for a second phase of upgrades that involves demolishing some existing structures, including a kitchen, restrooms, wading pool, pool office and storage building. The demolished facilities would make way for a new single-story, 3,600-square-foot community center as well as a new pool office, restrooms and a future pool with a deck, according to the final environmental assessment. The second phase is expected to cost about $5 million more, Harimoto said.

The Momilani Community Center, which was built in the 1970s on a 2.072-acre lot as an amenity for area residents, was operated by the Momilani Community Association until several years ago, when the Pearl City Foundation acquired the property, according to Harimoto. The center is host to various community activities for people of all ages, including boxing, karate and swimming classes, Summer Fun programs, as well as birthday parties.

The foundation also operates an "inter-session" day program for elementary students during school breaks.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.