Rebuilt PBS studio ready to air first show

After spending $2 million to restore and refurbish one of its Manoa studios, which was destroyed by a fire seven months ago, PBS Hawaii will air its first broadcast from the new facility tonight.

The pledge-of-support program, "Na Mele: Na Lani Eha," will air at 7:30 p.m.

It was filmed at Iolani Palace and sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines. The program features Hawaii’s top musicians performing songs composed by royal siblings King Kalakaua, Queen Liliu­oka­lani, Princess Likelike and Prince Lelei­ohoku.

The television music special, filmed inside the country’s only royal palace, includes performances by Marlene Sai, Robert Cazi­mero, Nina Kealii­waha­mana, Hau­nani Apo­li­ona, Dennis and David Kama­kahi, Aaron Mahi, Kuu­ipo Kumu­kahi and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Serenaders, Jeff Peterson, Helene Woodward, Ilana Mahie­hie Davis and the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus directed by Nola Nahulu.

Last week Kahu Kawika Kahi­apo, a PBS Hawaii board member and Na Hoku Hano­hano Award-winning musician, offered the blessing as the public television station’s staff looked on.

The initial damage estimate from fire officials was $250,000 following the Nov. 18 blaze. However, PBS Hawaii later said the cost of restoring the building and making Studio A production-ready would far exceed that.

"Thankfully, insurance covered the cost of expert work," said Leslie Wilcox, president and CEO of the noncommercial television station, in a written statement. "For 40 years, this studio has been home to great storytelling productions, and we’re eager to put it back into service for the benefit of the public."

Production Studio A on Dole Street has a new shell, air-ventilation system, furniture and curtains. All video equipment and lights have been restored.

In November fire officials said a light burst in the station’s main studio, causing a lighting gel to catch fire.

The fire spread to a wall and entered the building’s air-conditioning ducts, generating a lot of smoke.

The studio fire forced the state’s only public television station to go off the air for 24 hours.

A preschool next door and the kindergarten through fifth grades at nearby University Laboratory School were evacuated as a precaution.

Roberta Murray, PBS spokes­woman, said technicians were preparing for a taping of Wilcox’s "Long Story Short" program when the fire began.

"The flames shot right up to the ceiling," Murray said.

Workers from a property restoration company spent weeks wiping down studio equipment, cleaning out air-conditioning ducts, opening up computers and mixing boards to get to the parts inside, and removing the damaged soundproofing insulation inside Studio A.

While Studio A was being worked on, PBS used a smaller studio that is used by University of Hawaii communications students.

PBS Hawaii plans to move in 2014 from its current location to the former site of KHNL television at the corner of Nim­itz Highway and Sand Island Access Road. A capital campaign is under way to raise the money for that move.

Tonight’s program can also be viewed online via live stream at PBS­Hawaii. org.