CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM A man was among friends and family of the Quirit family who signed an American flag on the front of the burned-out home yesterday in Kaneohe.

Girl who died in fire already had big goals

A change in sleeping arrangements probably saved lives

Twelve-year-old Marika Akesa Melenina Quirit usually shared her bedroom with her brother and cousin.

Marika Quirit: The 12-year-old who died in a Kaneohe fire liked to dance Tahitian style

But early Sunday morning, her 10-year-old brother, Fuavasa "Vasa" Quirit Jr., and 7-year-old cousin, Kalae Huihui, were sleeping in their parents' bedrooms when fire swept through the Kaneohe home that the two families shared.

Marika died in the blaze that destroyed the three-bedroom home at 45-324 Kulauli St. The city Medical Examiner's Office said the cause of death was smoke inhalation and burns.

The change in sleeping arrangements may have saved the other children's lives, relatives said.

"Thank God," said Fuavasa Quirit Sr., holding his son at his side. "If not, it would be worse."

Quirit said yesterday that he awoke to the crackling of the fire. "I looked up, was all orange."

Marika's bedroom was at the end of the hall, and Quirit tried twice to get to her but the heat was too intense, the smoke too thick.

His wife, Brenda, cried out, "My baby, my baby!"

"We didn't hear nothing," said Quirit. "We were just yelling her name."

The couple ran outside, and Brenda began shooting water on the flaming bedroom. Quirit grabbed the hose and continued in vain while the rest of the family ran to safety.

The 3:26 a.m. blaze turned the home into rubble, causing an estimated $180,000 in damage, and destroyed two vehicles. Fire investigators have not determined the cause.

The Honolulu medical examiner said yesterday that Marika died from smoke inhalation and burns.

The Quirits and Brenda's twin sister, Linda Huihui, and her son, Kalae, moved into their three-bedroom home a few months ago.

Yesterday, a constant stream of relatives and friends stopped at what was left of the charred-black house to leave flowers, balloons and stuffed animals in memory of the girl who loved animals and wanted to be a veterinarian.

Many of the Quirits' and Huihuis' relatives live nearby.

The chain-link fence was a colorful quilt of mementos to Marika, including an American flag signed by loved ones.

The Quirits returned to their home late yesterday morning, hugged one another and surveyed the damage.

Brenda said Marika wanted to be a "lawyer or veterinarian or fashion designer or waitress. She wanted it all."

The seventh-grader, who had graduated from Kaneohe Elementary School, was being home-schooled under the Myron B. Thompson Academy. She eagerly signed up for several music classes.

Marika wanted to learn Japanese and Spanish. She also danced Tahitian, her mother said. "Anything she could try and touch, she wanted to," she said.