Friends and family members of Polynesian Voyaging navigator Nainoa Thompson and his wife Kathy Muneno of KHON2 --- are thankful no one was injured in a fire that consumed the couple's Niu Valley home Thursday afternoon. Fire investigators have not released the cause of the fire that also destroyed years of priceless memorabilia.
As fire investigators comb through the charred rubble Friday -- we are reminded that this was not just a home -- it was a museum.
"My first thought was oh my God all his memorabilia from his sails, you know Rapanui and all those things that you can't put a price tag on," said family friend Denise Darval-Chang. "In all his travels like wow what might have been lost in his house," added long-time family friend, Nalu Kukea.
So much concern because so much was lost. Nainoa Thompson is the face of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and his face has touched many...
"Nainoa has been in it from the beginning, somebody important like that it's going to hit a lot of people like wow," said Kukea.
Friday morning, investigators gently searched through debris --- salvaging anything they could -- knowing every piece of paper holds a story.
"The material things you can replace but you know his chartered maps," said Darval-Chang.
"Hopefully they didn't lose really priceless like things but I'm sure they might have," said Kukea.
Our family at KHON2 also hurts. Morning News Anchor Kathy Muneno was in the home when the fire broke out.
"It pretty much was totally consumed by fire. There was one person that was in the building as the fire was starting but she was able to escape," said Capt. Earle Kealoha of the Honolulu Fire Department.
There are four homes on the five acre property -- including another one next to burnt structure. "Everybody is concerned but fortunately nobody was hurt and it didn't take the other homes that you know everybody else lives up there," said Darval-Chang. "You can replace belongings but you can't replace life," added Kukea.
The recovery effort will help in the healing.
"The family is resilient and the club is big supporters of helping out everybody in times of need so I'm sure they'll have that support," said Darval- Chang.
Fire officials estimate the damage to home and its contents at 350-thousand dollars -- friends says the true cost will never be known.