The University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center for Oral History is turning 50, a milestone for anyone who cares about keeping local history alive.

• The center has recorded and archived more than 1,200 personal accounts over five decades.
• The collection covers big historic events, cultural traditions, and ordinary daily life in Hawaii.
• New work focuses on Maui communities hit by the 2023 wildfires, before those memories are lost.
• The push is to reach people who lived in Hawaii before statehood while they are still around to tell their stories.

Outlook: Expect the center to keep expanding its Maui recordings as it marks the anniversary.