HONOLULU (KHON2) — A local stained glass artist took a breath of relief on Thursday, Dec. 12 after she learned her precious artwork survived a storage fire.
Honolulu Fire Department officials said the blaze started from a candle that ignited items in Ohana Self Storage in October, 2024.
Aloha McNeil first put her stained glass in Ohana Self Storage 11 years ago and never expected to get the call that she recieved on the evening of Monday, Oct. 23.
“And they said, ‘Oh, the place was on fire,” McNeil said. “I was not allowed to get in for almost two months. So this is the day that it’s over. I was expecting a lot of water damage because they said there were five fire trucks, I think boxes got wet. You can see the dirt at the bottom of the windows.”
McNeil’s son Alastar said it is an absolute blessing that the pieces were not destroyed — and barely damaged — considering how each of the 2,050 units in Ohana Self Storage suffered smoke damage and need to be completely cleaned out.
“This is real glass. Tiffany Glass. It’s very textured and, you know, it’s something you won’t even be able to find this glass anymore. Now, you won’t even be able to find the raw materials anymore. So it’s, it’s, it’s irreplaceable and it’s very precious stuff,” Alastar McNeil said. “We’re just, we’re very thankful that everything was good, you know, in good shape.”
The McNeils — with help from some friends — moved 27 pieces into a different storage facility on Thursday and there is still a bit of a smoky scent on them.
“It’s okay. The smell doesn’t bother me at all. They’re in one piece. That’s the main thing,” she said.
McNeil’s pieces have sold in the tens of thousands of dollars, some are five decades old — but their sentimental worth holds even more value.
“Oh, it’s 50 years of my life,” Aloha said, “emotionally… priceless.”
Company officials at Ohana Self Storage said they hope to clean, refurbish and reopen their facility by March, 2025 — though that date is tentative.
The McNeil pieces will soon be on the market. Contact Galacticsoundwave@gmail.com for more information.
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“We’re going to call it the Phoenix,” Alastar said, “Phoenix Fire Sale!”