Saving Hawaii’s History From the Ashes, One Object at a Time

Two years after deadly wildfires hit Lahaina, archaeologists, conservators and congregants have taken on a “CSI” challenge: saving thousands of cultural artifacts from landmarks and sacred sites.What remains of the once-majestic Buddhist temple at the Lahaina Jodo Mission on Maui. The historic building was destroyed during the wind-driven wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023, but conservation experts and volunteers have been recovering and restoring items one by one.