Priceless connections to Hawaii's ancient past were lost when cultural center burned

Uilani (left) and Keeamoku Kapu run the Na 'Aikane o Maui Cultural and Research Center which was burned to the ground in the wildfires so they set up this grassroots community distribution center in Lahaina. They are on the phone here taking a call from Oprah about supplies she will be delivering. (Deanne Fitzmaurice for NPR)

MAUI, Hawaii — It could be a long time before the full extent of human loss is known after the wildfires. The official death is more than 110 and expected to keep growing.

While people are grappling with that news, they're still trying to understand the loss of priceless artifacts and their connections to the island's ancient past.