Opponents of wireless Internet provider Clearwire’s bid to build an 80-foot "stealth" antenna in Mililani Mauka said they are undeterred by the Mililani Town Association’s decision to accept the request and will continue their fight as the company seeks final approval from the city Department of Planning and Permitting.

The association’s board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve Clearwire’s request to construct the antenna at the Recreation Center VII lot, which would improve wireless service to the upper areas of the neighborhood.

The decision came two years after Clearwire’s failed bid to build a 60-foot antenna at nearby Mililani Ike Elementary School and following months of opposition from residents concerned about an eyesore in the neighborhood, lowered property values and related issues.

While many Mililani Mauka residents have been outspoken in opposing the project (the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood board voted unanimously to oppose the antenna), association board President Will Kane said written and oral testimony from a series of public meetings indicated strong support.

Kane said 36 Mililani Mauka residents supported the antenna, versus 29 who opposed. Opponents said they will focus on persuading the planning department to reject Clearwire’s application.

A group of Mililani Mauka residents calling themselves "Yes Antenna at Upper Mililani Mauka, No Antenna at Rec. Ctr. 7," questioned Clearwire’s contention that the antenna could not be placed at other available sites, including a lot in the Kapanoe subdivision of upper Mililani Mauka.

"Our neighborhood board asked MTA to validate Clearwire’s claim that the Kapanoe site would not work for their antenna and that Castle & Cooke had offered to give to MTA various sites around the area to install an antenna instead of doing it at Rec. 7," the group said in an e-mail statement released yesterday afternoon.

"Now we know that MTA does not work for the residents, only for those on the MTA board," the group said.