The Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center is a success story, one that government gladly supports under ordinary circumstances.

The fact that its state funds are now at risk does not mean it's any less successful,— or less essential. It means that these are not ordinary circumstances.

The center serves nearly 2,000 seniors age 60 and older who live between Ward Avenue and Fort Shafter. Its programs are comprehensive, helping elders by offering health and fitness programs, as well as referral services, education and entertainment programs, all in a friendly social setting.

Money spent at Lanakila — and similar programs at the Mo'ili'ili Community Center and other senior centers supported with public funds — should be considered a wise investment. If seniors are helped to feel well and vital members of the community, they remain engaged in that community, live independently longer and stay out of institutional care, which is far more of a burden on taxpayer resources.

But for the short term, funds are going to be tight. Very tight. Executives at Catholic Charities, the nonprofit that runs the Lanakila program under contract with the state, fear that the $123,722 subsidy that has been set aside for them in the state Department of Health budget will get axed in the coming months.

Beyond that allotment, the center will need funding from private as well as public sources to meet its $393,925 budget for 2010.

Hawai'i needs more community-based centers like Lanakila and Mo'ili'ili, which similarly receives DOH funds. They need to be sustained through the economic doldrums ahead, so that critical service to seniors won't be interrupted.

In reality, however, keeping things going will take some planning. A meeting of the minds is in order.

Staff at senior centers throughout the state — some funded through county tax coffers — need to collaborate with local social service agencies to map out at least a short-term funding strategy ahead of final budgetary decisions. Pooling resources among centers — sharing staffers, perhaps, to keep services going — could be explored.

And officials from government and the senior agencies can share ideas about funding potential among private partners in the community and charity foundations as well.

It would be inexcusable to let established support systems for elders wither during what will be difficult fiscal constraints.

Given the growing size of the state's elder population, the goal of enabling seniors to "age in place" should guide state policy. Leaders need to make sure we come out the other side of the bleak economic winter still on course for reaching that goal.