NINE ADVANCE TO SEMI-FINALS OF WORLD FIREKNIFE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Junior World Fireknife Champion Will Be Crowned Tomorrow
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 33 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.
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