Name Age Country of residence

Vaipahu Teai 9 French Polynesian
Desmond Talia 8 Hawaii
Achilles Tafiti 9 Hawaii
Hale Motuapuaka 8 Hawaii
Kawika Lonoaea 9 Hawaii

Junior Division 12 – 17 yrs

Name Age Country of Residence
Kuinise Leiataua 15 California
Keenan Chung 13 Hawaii
James Ahuna 15 Hawaii
Rainui Tuarea 16 French Polynesia
Brandonlee Lavatai 15 American Samoa
Jeurell Lavatai 17 American Samoa
Tunui Tuarea 15 French Polynesia
Christopher Bertho 15 French Polynesia
David Pou 14 French Polynesia
Rex Tiumalu 13 Florida
Julius Tafiti 16 Hawaii
Jose Torres 12 Guam
Ua Mana Castillo 16 Hawaii

Womens Division

Name Age Country of Residence

Janine Rothmund 21 Hawaii
Dolly Fuifatu 21 Samoa
Tinei Pili 21 Hawaii
Justeen Castillo 16 Hawaii

Senior Division

Name Age Country of Residence

Brandon Maneafaiga 26 Hawaii
Conan Higa 33 Hawaii
Mikaele Oloa 18 Florida
Paul Morimoto 31 Hawaii
Richard Siolosega 27 Hawaii
Frank Souza 22 Hawaii
Michael Ahuna 19 Hawaii
David Ahuna 25 Hawaii
Hawaka Jeremiah 37 Hawaii
Andrew Sexton III 23 Florida
Jacob Filipo 25 Hawaii
Lafoai Brown 27 Hawaii
Malakai Lavatai 18 American Samoa
Leon Teai 43 French Polynesia
Dana Teai 19 French Polynesia
Tapaga Purcell 31 Hawaii
David Galeai 29 Hawaii
Daniel Long 22 Hawaii
Thomas Thompson 26 Hawaii
Harry Sakaio Pupualii 26 Samoa
Madigan Fuimaono 19 Samoa
Creasepaul Lifu 29 Hawaii
Jerome Slade 23 Hawaii
Spencer Lonoaea 35 Hawaii

Open Men Duet

Name

David Galeai with Boyd Lauano
Benjamin Fuimaono with Madigan Fuimaono
Rainui Tuarea with Tuarea Tunui
David Pou with Christopher Bertho
Leon Teai with Dana Teai
Malakai Lavatai with Jeurell Lavatai
Brandonlee Lavatai with
Viavia Tiumalu with Mikaele Oloa
Jesse Usiel with Jose Torres

Contact: Maria Quidez, (808) 539-3493
Monday, March 10, 2008

Lāʻie, HI – This May, the fierce and acrobatic art of Samoan fireknife dancing returns to the Polynesian Cultural Center for the 16th Annual World Fireknife Championships. At this fiery event, the last thing you’ll notice is what the dancers are wearing.

From May 14 through May 17, fireknife dancers from all over the World will battle head-to-head for the supreme title of World Fireknife Champion. The event is the second cultural event of PCC’s 45th anniversary year and is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years of the competition.

Expected to return and defend their titles are the 2005-2006 and 2007 World Fireknife Champions, Mikaele Oloa and Andrew “Umi” Sexton, respectively. According to official rules, Oloa was not eligible to compete after winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, so this year these two warriors will duke it out, along with dozens of other competitors, to be named the best in the world. The preliminary competition will take place on Thursday, May 15 and the semi-finals on Friday, May 16 to be held at PCC’s Hale Aloha Theater.

The top three competitors will then have to perform at PCC’s Pacific Theater on Saturday, May 17, during the intermission of the Horizons night show, which will be held twice that evening. Immediately following the second show, the winning warrior is named and a lavish award ceremony is held in their honor.

In addition, back by popular demand is the Warrior’s Duet Fireknife Competition, which allows tandem teams to perform a coordinated routine. However, the performance is anything but routine, with amazing throws and double the danger for thrill seekers. Not to be outdone, the women’s competition, Teine Toa o Samoa (Female Warriors of Samoa), also returns for a second year and brings new meaning to femme fatale. Both events will take place on Wednesday, May 14 in the PCC’s Hale Aloha Theater.

Sponsored by Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Hawaiian Airlines, Turtle Bay Resort, Electric Pencil, Cirque du Soleil, Pepsi, Bank of Hawaii, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and the City & County of Honolulu, the annual World Fireknife Competition also includes the Pacific Junior Fireknife Competitions on May 16 where competitors as young as four demonstrate their own sensational fireknife skills. The young warriors are not to be taken lightly and demonstrate that they too will be vying for the World Fireknife crown in the future.

The art of fireknife dancing is one of the most intense, skillful, but beautiful Samoan traditions in which dancers twirl a sharp knife with both ends on fire at high speeds and with acrobatic finesse. The fire is very real, and dancers often make contact with different parts of their body with only a short lavalava wrap around their waist. As any fireknife dancer will tell you, they do get burned, as dancers use no other form of protection.

“Many of these competitors began learning the fireknife when they were just a child, picking up the practice fireknives at first,” said Logo Apelu, vice president of operations for the Polynesian Cultural Center. “Unlike most children, though, these young warriors were encouraged to play with fire.”

When the competition was founded 16 years ago, there were less than 30 competitors. Last year, more than 65 performers entered the competition with dancers entering from Japan, New Zealand, Guam and even the continental U.S.

In addition to the fireknife competitions, the PCC’s Pacific Theater will also serve as a venue for the annual Samoan Cultural High Schools Arts Festival where Hawaiʻi high school students demonstrate their own cultural knowledge of Samoan traditions with exhibitions in basket weaving, coconut husking as well as fire making among other events. Visitors are encouraged to stop by festival, which will be held at the Pacific Theater beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 prior to the World Fireknife Championship face-off that evening.

Admission to the Hale Aloha Theater events and the Samoan Cultural High School Arts Festival is $8 for adults, ages 12 and up and $6 for keiki ages three to 11. To join in on the final night of festivities, visitors must purchase a reserved seating ticket to either of the two Horizons night shows that evening, as the finals take place during the intermissions of both. Any full-day ticket holder can attend any of the special events with their ticket except for the final night, which will require a Horizons night show ticket. Ticket prices start at $43.00.

For more information or to make reservations, please call the Polynesian Cultural Center ticket office at (800) 367-7060 or visit the PCC Web site at www.polynesia.com. In Hawaiʻi, call (808) 293-3333.

Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 33 million visitors while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 17,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawaiʻi. As a non-profit organization, all funds generated by the PCC are used for its daily operations and to support its cultural and educational missions.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit, culture and people of Polynesia. This week, all guests were invited to attend the Fireknife Competition and learn about the people and culture of Samoa through various other activities including the annual Samoan Arts Festival held on Saturday morning in the PCC’s Pacific Theater.

Laie, HI – High school students from throughout Oahu gathered today at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) to show off their knowledge and skills of Samoa’s cultural traditions at the 2007 Samoan Cultural Arts Festival, but it was Kahuku High School that proved they know it best this year when they returned to capture the overall title again. Second place went to Radford High School and Waipahu High School took third.

More than 600 students took part representing nine high schools, including teams comprised of students from Farrington and Moanalua, as well as Leilehua and Mililani. Other schools included Kahuku, Kapolei, Moanalua, Radford and Waipahu.

The competition also featured a special presentation and performance by Tui Pule and the United Samoa Organization of Hawaii (USOH) featuring the 2006 Miss Lelalelei O Samoa and candidates for the 2007 pageant to be held in July. USOH returned again this year as the sponsor for the Taupo, or princess dance category, with a gift of $800. Along with the World Fireknife Dance Championships, the Samoan Cultural Arts Festival is a premier event of the Samoa Festival, which concludes tonight.

It was a packed house in the PCC’s Pacific Theater with the capacity audience of 2,775 cheering wildly throughout the competition. “This is the first time we’ve had so many schools join us for this event,” said Delsa Moe, emcee and director of cultural presentations for the PCC. “It’s so exciting to see the kids at the schools gather together to share their pride in the Samoan culture and celebrate its traditions through the various events and activities.”

The high school students worked together as teams in exciting cultural competitions that tested their expertise at traditional Samoan skills like coconut husking, basket weaving, and banana peeling. They also demonstrated their Samoan oratorical talents, musicianship, and mastery of traditional dances. Kahuku High School was judged the overall winner based on its cumulative performance in all the competitions.

Sponsors for the Samoa Arts Festival included Electric Pencil, Hawaiian Airlines, United Samoan Organization of Hawaii and Turtle Bay Resort. The high school awards included cash prizes and trophies for the various tasks and dances.

Visit the PCC website at http://www.polynesia.com for images and updates for the Samoa Festival and see the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. The weeklong festivities of the Samoa Festival conclude tonight with the crowning of the World Fireknife Dance Champion.

The competition rankings for the 2007 Samoa Arts Festival are:

OVERALL WINNERS
(Based on Total Number of Points Earned)
1. Kahuku High School
2. Radford High School
3. Waipahu High School

CULTURAL GAMES
Banana Peeling
Men:
1. Leilehua High School
2. Kahuku High School
3. Waipahu High School

Women:
1. Kapolei High School
2. Waipahu High School
3. Farrington High School

Basket Weaving
Men:
1. Waipahu High School
2. Leilehua High School
3. Radford High School

Women:
1. Leilehua High School
2. Kapolei High School

Coconut Husking
Men:
1. Waipahu High School
2. Kahuku High School
3. Radford High School & Kapolei High School (tie)

Women:
1. Kahuku High School
2. Waipahu High School
3. Leilehua High School

Fire Making
1. Kahuku High School

LAUGA (SPEECH)
1. Farrington High School ($300 prize)
2. Kahuku High School ($200 prize)
3. Kapolei High School ($100 prize)

DANCE
Best Faaluma (Comedian):
Radford High School

Best Costume (3-way Tie)
Farrington High School
Leilehua High School
Waipahu High School

Musicians (2-way tie)
Kahuku High School
Waipahu High School

Mauluulu (Girls Dance):
1. Waipahu High School ($800 prize)
2. Kahuku High School ($400 prize)
3. Radford High School ($300 prize)

Sasa (Sit Down Dance):
1. Radford High School ($800 prize)
2. Kahuku High School ($400 prize)
3. Waipahu High School ($300 prize)

Taupo (Princess Dance):
Kahuku High School

Laie – With Samoan culture highlighting the weekend festivities at the Polynesian Cultural Center, it’s only fitting that two brothers from Pago Pago, American Samoa win the top two slots in the 15th Annual Junior Pacific Fireknife Championships. Jeurell J. Lavatai, 16, took top honors in the 12-17 year old category and his brother Brandonlee Lavatai, 14, came in second, with Laie’s Julius Tafiti, 15, in third place.

The top three performed increasingly daring routines that showcased their speed, strength and stamina with exciting maneuvers that thrilled the crowd of more than 1,000 in the PCC’s Hale Aloha Theater.

“This is our 15th anniversary for our annual competition, so we’re very happy that we had our biggest turnout ever for this part of the festival,” said Delsa Moe, competition emcee and director of cultural presentations at the Polynesian Cultural Center. “We’ve worked hard to enhance the event and I think the increase in attendance and participation is a testament to the growing popularity of fireknife dancing as a cultural sport.”

In the third night of the now four-day competition, the kids were the real stars of the show as 21 competitors ranging in ages from 6 to 17 took the stage to compete for the title of Junior Pacific Fireknife Champion in their respective age categories.

Along with a specially designed set of trophy fireknives, Jeurell Lavatai also received a check for $800. His brother received $600 for second place and Tafiti took home $400.

First place in the 6-11 year old category went to Tennessee Suesue, an 11-year-old from Salt Lake City, Utah. Second place was awarded to Marcus Muti, 9, from Laie and another Laie boy, 8-year-old Achilles Tafiti took third place.

In addition to the Fireknife Championship events on Saturday, May 19, visitors have the opportunity to attend the Samoan Cultural High School Arts Festival in the PCC’s Pacific Theater starting at 9 a.m. Students from Hawai‘i high schools will demonstrate their Samoan cultural knowledge and skills in friendly competitions such as basket weaving, coconut husking, banana peeling, fire making, singing, dancing, and oration.

Sponsored by Cirque du Soleil, Electric Pencil, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, Hawaiian Airlines, Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Turtle Bay Resort, and the PCC, this annual competition draws spectators from around the world.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s finals are $40 for adults and $30 for children ages 3-11, but there are very few seats left. Call 293-3333 to make reservations and check on available seating. Visit the PCC website at http://www.polynesia.com for updates on the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. This week, all guests are invited to attend the Fireknife Championships and even learn the ancient art of fireknife dancing first-hand during free, on-site seminars in the Samoan Village.

Laie – Following the conclusion of the third night of competition, the top three challengers who will advance to vie for the title of world’s best in the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Championships are:

Andrew Sexton, Orlando, Florida
Joseph Cadousteau – Papeete, Tahiti
Alexander Galeai – Laie, Hawaii

The journey to champion began yesterday for 25 warriors with only 9 advancing to the semi-final competition. After grueling routines that wowed the crowd of nearly 1,000 people, it was clear that the slightest mistake would be necessary to narrow the steep competition down to the final three. Each semi-finalist received a $500 check for his participation.

In addition to the Fireknife Championship events tomorrow night, visitors have the opportunity to attend the Samoan Cultural High School Arts Festival in the PCC’s Pacific Theater starting at 9 a.m. Students from Hawaii high schools will demonstrate their Samoan cultural knowledge and skills in friendly competitions such as basket weaving, coconut husking, banana peeling, fire making, singing, dancing, and oration.

Sponsored by Cirque du Soleil, Electric Pencil, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, Hawaiian Airlines, Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Turtle Bay Resort, and the PCC, this annual competition draws spectators from around the world.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s finals are $40 for adults and $30 for children ages 3-11, but there are very few seats left. Call 293-3333 to make reservations and check on available seating. Visit the PCC website at http://www.polynesia.com for updates on the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. This week, all guests are invited to attend the Fireknife Championships and even learn the ancient art of fireknife dancing first-hand during free, on-site seminars in the Samoan Village.

La‘ie – The field started with 25 competitors vying for their chance at the championship title for the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Championships. They came from as far as Japan, Tahiti, Samoa, Orlando, the Philippines, and all over Hawai‘i to compete. Only nine will move on to compete in the semi-finals for the title of the “World’s Best” and the competition is tough with two former world champions and the current reigning duet champion as part of the field.

The nine finalists competing tomorrow night are:

David Galeai – Laie, HI (3-time world champion)
Viavia Tiumalu – Orlando, FL (07 duet champ/05-06 Jr. champ)
Fue Brandon Maneafaiga – Waianae, HI
Andrew Sexton – Orlando, FL
Joseph Cadousteau – Papeete, Tahiti
Alexander Galeai – Laie, HI (former world champion)
Micah Naruo – Honolulu, HI
Sakaio Harry Pupualii – Apia, Samoa
Thomas T.C. Thompson – Laie, HI

The field will narrow down to three after the competition continues tomorrow in the Hale Aloha Theater at 7:45 p.m. The top three will compete for the championship Saturday night, May 19, in the PCC’s Pacific Theater during the intermission of the 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Horizons night show. The scores from each performance will be combined for the winning score, which will be announced at the end of the 8 p.m. show.

Before these nine competitors take the stage, junior fireknife dancers as young as six years old will showcase their skills in the Junior Pacific Fireknife Championships starting at 7:45 p.m. in the Hale Aloha Theater. The 6-11 year olds will have seven competitors, while 16 challengers will compete in the 12-17 year old category.

Along with Fireknife Championship events on Saturday, May 19, visitors have the opportunity to attend the Samoan Cultural High School Arts Festival. Students from eight Hawai‘i high schools will demonstrate their Samoan cultural knowledge and skills in friendly competitions such as basket weaving, coconut husking, banana peeling, fire making, singing, dancing, and oration. PCC visitors are welcome to watch these competitions in the Pacific Theater beginning at 9 a.m. Seats are reserved for this very popular event, so early ticket purchase is recommended.

Sponsored by Cirque du Soleil, Electric Pencil, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, Hawaiian Airlines, Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Turtle Bay Resort, and the PCC, this annual competition draws spectators from around the world.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s competition for kama‘aina are $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-11. Seats are almost sold out for the finals on Saturday night. Tickets for the finals are $40 for adults and $30 for children ages 3-11. Call 293-3333 to make reservations. Visit the PCC website at www.polynesia.com for updates on the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Championships.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. This week, all guests are invited to attend the Fireknife Championships and even learn the ancient art of fireknife dancing first-hand during free, on-site seminars in the Samoan Village.

La’ie, HI – Once a winner, always a winner was the theme of the night with the announcement of partners Viavia Tiumalu and Mikaele Oloa of Orlando, Florida as the first place winners in the newly minted Duets competition at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 15th Annual World Fireknife Championships. Both Tiumalu and Oloa are the reigning champions from last year’s fireknife competition in their respective age categories. Oloa is the current two-time World Fireknife Champion, so this was his only chance to compete due to regulations limiting entry after two consecutive wins.

“It’s exciting for us to win this title as a team since we’ve been practicing together since we were small kids,” said Viavia Tiumalu. “It’s awesome to be the first to win this title and have our place in the history books.”

Though there would be no competition for the winner of the Teine O Samoa or “Female Warriors of Samoa” due to last minute cancellation of competitors, the lone entrant Janelle Ferejan from San Diego, Calif. proved she is one hot chick. Speed and grace matched with style and unparalleled flexibility highlighted her performance. Two years in the making, the women’s competition was added to the line up as part of the 15th anniversary celebration.

“I hope that next year more girls come out,” said Janelle Ferejan. “There aren’t that many fireknife dancers in San Diego, so it’s great to be surrounded by some of the world’s best and learn from them. I’ve wanted to compete for a few years now, so I’m thrilled to be here this year as a competitor.”

Synchronicity was the name of the game when it came to the skill and beauty of the duet competition. The partners moved in tandem to the rhythmic beats of the steel drums highlighting the new category that kicked off the annual competition honoring Samoan culture.

Second place went to La‘ie favorites Lehi Aumua and three-time solo world champion David Galea‘i, who thrilled the audience of nearly 700 with their quick knives and exciting maneuvers. Third place was a tie between Wailuku, Maui’s duet Austin De Rego and Conan Higa, and partners Sakaie Pupualii from Apia, Samoa and Daniel Morry from La‘ie, Hawai‘i.

“We really wanted to add these new categories to highlight different aspects of the competition,” said Delsa Moe, director of cultural presentations for the Polynesian Cultural Center. “The crowd and the competitors really seem to love it, so we’re hoping we’ll have even more entrants next year and raise the bar.”

The competition continues tomorrow night in the Hale Aloha Theater with the preliminaries of the men’s category starting at 7:45 p.m. More than 30 competitors are expected to join in the festivities to see if they can make it to the finals on Saturday night in the PCC’s Pacific Theater.

Along with Fireknife Championship events, on Saturday, May 19, visitors have the opportunity to attend the Samoan Cultural High School Arts Festival. Students from Hawai‘i high schools will demonstrate their Samoan cultural knowledge and skills in friendly competitions such as basket weaving, coconut husking, banana peeling, fire making, singing, dancing, and oration. PCC visitors are welcome to watch these competitions in the Pacific Theater beginning at 9 a.m.

Sponsored by Coca-Cola, Cirque du Soleil, Electric Pencil, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, Hawaiian Airlines, Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Turtle Bay Resort, and the PCC, this annual competition draws spectators from around the world.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s competition for kama‘aina are $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-11. Seats are almost sold out for the finals on Saturday night. Tickets for the finals are $40 for adults and $30 for children ages 3-11. Call 293-3333 to make reservations. Visit the PCC website at www.polynesia.com for updates on the results of the 15th Annual World Fireknife Dance Competition.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 32 million visitors by preserving the spirit and cultures of Polynesia. This week, all guests are invited to attend the Fireknife Championships and even learn the ancient art of fireknife dancing first-hand during free, on-site seminars in the Samoan Village.

Amy Hennessey
Direct: (808) 539-3439
Cell: (808) 381-9197
amy@mcneilwilson.com