A surge of new funding is highlighting the critical mission of one of Â鶹´«Ã½¡¯s most significant digital archives. Multiple grants are flowing into the ¡¯ (COH) in recognition of its vital work to preserve the history, voices and experiences of Maui communities.
Housed in the on the UH Mānoa campus, COH is leveraging these resources to launch a series of Maui-based projects focused on recovery, cultural continuity and environmental history.
“Taken together, these four projects form a complementary portfolio that documents Maui¡¯s people, places, environments and institutions during a critical period of transformation,” said COH Director Mary Kunmi Yu Danico. “They intersect through their shared reliance on oral history, commitment to community collaboration, dedication to cultural preservation and focus on creating accessible and sustainable historical resources. Collectively, they not only preserve the past but also contribute to Maui¡¯s recovery, resilience and future generations¡¯ understanding of their heritage.”
Four major initiatives
Maui Strong Fund of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Community Foundation—$250,000
- Project: “Lahaina Memories: Preserving Oral Histories Through Intergenerational Storytelling”
“Lahaina Memories” is a community-centered initiative designed to document and preserve the lived experiences, cultural knowledge and historical memory of Lahaina residents following the 2023 Maui wildfires. The project will produce up to 100 hours of recorded oral history interviews, including 40 hours conducted by COH and 60 hours led by trained educators, youth and community members.
National Endowment for the Humanities grant—$159,000
- Project: “Echoes of Wai (Water): Oral Histories from Maui”
“Echoes of Wai” seeks to document the voices and experiences of Maui residents through 30 oral history interviews. The project will conduct 20 interviews in West Maui, with a particular focus on Lahaina, where many residents were directly affected by the August 2023 wildfires. An additional 10 interviews will be conducted with residents of Central Maui, specifically within Nā Wai ʻEhā (The Four Great Waters), encompassing the districts of Wailuku, Waiehu, Waikapū and Waiheʻe.
American Council of Learned Societies Digital Justice grant—$100,000
- Project: “Nā Moʻolelo o Nā Wāhine: A Digital Justice Oral History Project Preserving Maui¡¯s HerStories”
COH will expand its digital capacity by foregrounding the voices and experiences of women of color on Maui. Their leadership in education, labor, environmental stewardship and community life has shaped Â鶹´«Ã½ in profound yet often underrecognized ways. This project brings renewed attention to these narratives and deepens COH¡¯s long-standing commitment to inclusive historical preservation.
National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Grant—$29,000
- Project: “Lahaina Jodo Mission Oral History Project”
The objective is to conduct oral histories that systematically capture the history, memories and lived experiences of temple elders and individuals who attended or lived at the Lahaina Jodo Mission. Through this partnership, COH will leverage community knowledge and preserve these stories for future generations. The information collected will support ongoing efforts to document the history of the Lahaina Jodo Mission as it rebuilds following the August 2023 Maui wildfires.
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