Following recent fires in Maui, officials and preservation experts are planning cleanup efforts while attempting to salvage and document cultural artifacts.

Cleanup process: The fires severely damaged buildings and landmarks in the tourist town of Lahaina, a national historic district with structures dating back 150 years.
* In response to the destruction, cleanup efforts are being expedited while being mindful of the historical significance of the impacted area.

Historical significance: Lahaina has a complex history, being inhabited for more than a thousand years and serving as a royal seat in the mid-1800s.
* Unfortunately, many pre-colonial sites were destroyed during the sugar plantation era, and the recent fires have incinerated or endangered remaining artifacts.
* The Lahaina Heritage Museum, housed in the Old Courthouse, suffered roof collapse, endangering many precious items, including artifacts from the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Surviving landmarks and digital progress: Despite the destruction, the fire spared some historic sites, like the Waiola cemetery, and digital preservation efforts mean some artifacts have been saved virtually.
* The cemetery, which is a burial ground for key historical figures, remained mostly intact.
* Although physical elements in the museum may be lost, their digital copies in the form of photographs, recreations, and translations survive.

Keeping culture alive: Cultural traditions tied to the damaged landmarks continue, with certain events moving online.
* The annual Emma Farden Sharpe Hula Festival, typically held under a local landmark tree in Lahaina, was conducted virtually this year.
* Participants insist that despite the loss of physical sites, Hawaiian culture and history live on in stories, songs, and dances.

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