StarBulletin.com

Aiga troupe dances on despite loss from blaze


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POSTED: Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Their dance uniforms were destroyed in a fire yesterday, but the show will go on Friday for the youngsters in Aiga 808 Kolone Productions.

The costumes and dance gear were stored in a wooden shed behind the Kalihi home of Anolilo and Kolone Kolone Jr. Also destroyed in the 9:20 a.m. blaze were a sewing machine, a computer used to print designs on clothing, two television sets, a video camera and the dance videos of past performances.

“;We canceled practice today, but we are going to do our Friday show. This won't stop us,”; Elisabeta Kolone said yesterday. She and her sister Teuila are instructors for the youth troupe, which performs Polynesian dance from several Pacific islands. “;We are going to pick up new material, and my mother still has her sewing machine.”;

“;Luckily, it didn't come near the house,”; Kolone said of the fire. Her mother and 4-year-old child were in the house at 2303 Palena St. when the fire broke out. They were not hurt.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. He said the damage was estimated at $10,000 to the building and $20,000 to contents.

The Aiga — which translates to “;family”; — troupe will perform at a Friday party at the Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii hall. The group is also raising funds for a summer show in Santa Rosa, Calif. The dance group, which numbers 20 boys and girls in the summer, is down to 12 during the school year, Elisabeta Kolone said.