There is precious little space for new additions at the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts archives room in Kane'ohe, which houses what is believed to be the biggest collection of Father Damien artifacts outside Belgium.

In the cramped room, hundreds of original photos chronicling Damien's life are stacked in boxes to the ceiling.

And artifacts are everywhere: A lock of his hair is under glass in a circular box. Damien's vestments hang in a specially made plastic display case near the door. And in a corner case sit his personal items, including his glasses.

Some of these artifacts have never been seen by the public. Many haven't been on display in years.

But the congregation is working to change that.

With Father Damien's canonization just four months away and interest in his life growing around the world, congregation members are finalizing plans for a permanent Damien museum in Waikiki, which they hope to have open in about a year; working to digitize Damien photos before they are lost to age; and fielding more requests for Damien information. It's work the tiny congregation, of which Damien was a member, is happy to do despite limited resources.

"The interest is growing so quickly now," said the Rev. Christopher Keahi, the provincial superior for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in the Islands. "Not too many get the opportunity of going to the archives. With more interest coming forth from the canonization, we hope we are able to supply the necessary information."

The Rev. Lane Akiona, pastor at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Waikiki, said he is preparing to file for building permits for a $1.2 million addition to the property on Kalakaua Ave-nue, which would house a museum and offices. The church, in the midst of other renovations, plans to kick off a donation campaign for the new museum in September.

GETTING PREPARED

The Damien museum that used to be at the church closed about six years ago for security upgrades and renovations, but the project stalled because of lack of funding. Then, in 2006, the church kicked off a master plan process and the diocese approved a new museum there.

The museum is the second phase of renovations at the church. Other work has included major repairs to the building, and a new parking structure and hall are also planned.

Akiona said he wants to have construction on the new museum finished in 12 to 18 months, opening it with artifacts that used to be on display at the church and are now at the Sacred Hearts headquarters for safekeep- ing.

The efforts are part of a flurry of projects statewide aimed at preparing for Father Damien de Veuster's elevation to sainthood on Oct. 11 in Rome, and for the onslaught of new interest in the Belgian priest who is already known worldwide for his service to the Hansen's disease patients of Moloka'i until his death from the disease in 1889.

Other preparations under way include:

• Final discussions on the planned reliquary at the Cathedral of our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, where Damien was ordained. The church will house the Damien relic, a bone from the saint's foot, that will come to Hawai'i after the canonization. The relic will go to the church after making stops around the Islands from Oct. 18 to Nov. 6.

• Work to open a small museum and gift shop in Kaunakakai, next to St. Sophia Church. The property was recently purchased by the Sacred Hearts congregation.

• Several Damien celebrations, including a fundraiser July 18 for Moloka'i's Hansen's disease patients who are attending the canonization, a youth gathering and Damien float in the Aloha Week parade in September, and a host of gatherings after Oct. 11, culminating in a Nov. 1 interfaith gathering at 'Iolani Palace.

ENORMOUS SUPPORT

Wallace Mitsui, a deacon at St. John's Apostle & Evangelist Church in Mililani who is coordinating Damien canonization events in Hawai'i for the Diocese of Honolulu, said the outpouring of support he has gotten shows him just how much people want to celebrate the life of the man who will become Hawai'i's first saint. Seats to the July 18 fundraiser are selling fast. He has also collected $2,000 from people who couldn't attend, but wanted to give.

Meanwhile, the diocese says it is seeing increased interest in Damien from people worldwide, especially since launching a canonization Web site, father damien.com, in May. And clergy said they are hearing about Damien events being planned from Spain to India to coincide with his canonization.

"So many people know Damien," said the Rev. Alfred Bell, general postulator for the Sacred Hearts Congregation in Rome, who is overseeing events surrounding the canonization. Bell added that Damien's elevation to sainthood makes the work being done in the Islands to preserve Damien artifacts and eventually put them on display vital.

"We want to preserve all things Damien," he said.

The Sacred Hearts congregation has been planning the reopening of its Damien museum for years.

But progress has been slow because of funding and other renovations under way at St. Augustine Church, a landmark in the heart of Waikiki. Akiona said there is still plenty of work to do before construction can begin. He has to seek permits, get input from the community and secure enough money to make the project a reality.

"If I had my way, we'd start today," Akiona said, adding that he wants the museum done right.

"To do any (slapdash), Band-Aid thing now" wouldn't do justice to Hawai'i's first saint, he said.

Keahi, the provincial superior, pointed out that the museum planning comes as the congregation is also poring over years of Damien-related photographs housed at the Kane'ohe archives. As the photos are sorted, they are also sent out to be digitally copied onto CDs, which will eventually be available to the public. Keahi said the work is proving time-consuming, but also important given that many of the photos are in poor condition and are deteriorating.

He estimated about one-quarter of the archives' photos have been copied.

There is no official count of the photos in the archives, but Keahi said it is in the thousands.