POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER TURNS UP THE FIRE AT THE 15TH ANNUAL WORLD FIREKNIFE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS MAY
Female Competitors and Tandem Teams Gear Up with Potential World Champions for a Daring Showcase of Acrobatic Finesse
La'ie, HI - In May, the scorching blades and acrobatic finesse of some of the most daring and talented performers will take over the Polynesian Cultural Center at the 15th Annual World Fireknife Championships from May 16 to 19.
The PCC is celebrating the landmark year with the addition of two new events in the four-day Samoan cultural festival. On Wednesday, May 16, in the Hale Aloha Theater the recently slated Teine Toa o Samoa, or "Female Warriors of Samoa", promises to showcase to fire-hungry visitors what a few feminine touches can do for the fireknife dance. The second fiery twist that day is the new Warrior's Duet Fireknife Competition where two dancers will perform a coordinated routine. Twice as much fire means twice as much danger and excitement.
"The addition of the women's segment and duet portion is a bold accent to this competition," said Pulefano Galea'i, the founder of the World Fireknife Championships. "Each year, the performers reinvent the art of fireknife, and it's only natural that the art would begin to evolve around the performers."
Adding fuel to the fire, competitors of the World Fireknife Championships hit the Hale Aloha center stage in the preliminary competition on Thursday, May 17 at 7:45 p.m. The margin for error is zero at this point, as only 9 performers will advance to the semi-finals.
The flames keep burning at the semi-final competition on Friday, May 18, at the Hale Aloha Theater and only 3 performers will be left in the running for the title of 2007 World Fireknife Champion. Visitors will also be treated to the Pacific Junior and Children's Fireknife Competitions. The Junior Competition will include performers between the ages of 12 to 17. At the Children's Fireknife Competition, competitors as young as six will give their able little hands a try at the daring dance. Don't underestimate these young warriors, their bravery and skill rival those twice their size.
The thrilling finish to the competition will be on Saturday, May 19, at the Pacific Theater and puts the top three warriors to the ultimate test during the intermissions of the Horizons night show at the 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. shows. As the last flame is extinguished, a new World Fireknife Champion will be crowned.
The art of fireknife dancing is as dangerous as it is beautiful. Fireknife dancers are protected only by a short lavalava wrap around their waist and use no sort of protective oil or lotion. While twirling the knife at high speeds, the dancers effortlessly gyrate around the flames risking injury. While posing with the flaming blades, many of the performers actually make contact with their hands, feet, back, and mouth.
"Many of the competitors have spent years learning about the Samoan art of fireknife dancing, and their performances shine with brilliant expertise," said Galea'i. He joked, "While most people are naturally allergic to fire, these performers embrace the flaming lick of the fireknife with a devoted passion."
Not only is Galea'i the founder of the competition, he serves as an artistic cultural director for the PCC, and he has been a fireknife dance instructor for many generations. Galea'i said that when the competition began, less than 40 warriors vied for the championship title. Last year, over 65 performers from Samoa, Tahiti, Hawai'i, Japan, Guam, New Zealand, and the mainland U.S. entered the competition.
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.
Kama'aina admission to the events in the Hale Aloha is $8 for adults 12 and up and $6 for children 3-11. To secure a spot for the final nights' festivities, visitors must purchase a ticket to the PCC Horizons night show, as the finals will be held during the intermission. If you have purchased a full day ticket to the Polynesian Cultural Center's regular ticket packages on any of the event dates, you can attend any of the special event activities for no additional cost by showing your ticket to enter except for the finals night when you must purchase a Horizons night show ticket.
For more information or to make reservations call the Polynesian Cultural Center ticket office at (800) 367-7060 or visit the PCC website at www.Polynesia.com. In Hawai'i, 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 15,000 young people from more than 70 different countries while they have attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii. 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.
###
