{"id":238988,"date":"2026-08-13T07:59:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=238988"},"modified":"2026-08-13T07:59:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:59:43","slug":"preserving-maui-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/08\/13\/preserving-maui-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Preserving Maui\u2019s stories: UH<\/abbr> Center for Oral History lands $538K<\/abbr> in new funding"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

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A surge of new funding is highlighting the critical mission of one of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s most significant digital archives. Multiple grants are flowing into the College of Social Sciences<\/a>\u2019 Center for Oral History<\/a> (COH<\/abbr>) in recognition of its vital work to preserve the history, voices and experiences of Maui communities.<\/p>\n

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Mary Kunmi Yu Danico talking story with three Maui women at the “Oral Histories of Maui” talk story event at Wailuku Public Library on July 30, 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Housed in the Department of Ethnic Studies<\/a> on the UH<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> campus, COH<\/abbr> is leveraging these resources to launch a series of Maui-based projects focused on recovery, cultural continuity and environmental history.<\/p>\n

“Taken together, these four projects form a complementary portfolio that documents Maui\u2019s people, places, environments and institutions during a critical period of transformation,” said COH<\/abbr> 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\u2019s recovery, resilience and future generations\u2019 understanding of their heritage.”<\/p>\n

Four major initiatives<\/h2>\n
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Interview with Nanea Sproat-Armitage and Nelson Armitage for the Lahainaluna Native Hawaiian Boarding Student oral history project.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maui Strong Fund of the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Community Foundation—$250,000<\/strong><\/p>\n