2005 Results As They Happened

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Saturday, May 14, 2005

15-year-old captures PCC World Fire Knife Championship

LAIE, Hawaii — Mikaele Oloa, a 15-year-old sophomore at Oakridge High School in Orlando, Florida, edged out first runner-up, Hogan To'omalatai of Siumu, Samoa, by one point to claim the Polynesian Cultural Center's 13th annual Samoan World Fire Knife Dance Championship on Saturday evening, May 14, 2005. Second runner-up honors went to Brandon 'Fue' Maneafaiga of Waianae, Oahu.

All three turned in powerful performances during two separate PCC evening shows, with the combined scores from both shows used to determine the winner. In the end, it might have been the fact Oloa did not drop his knives, while To'omalatai dropped his once in the first show, and Maneafaiga dropped his once in each show.

Along with the world champion title, Oloa won $4,000 and a trophy dancing knife created by Pulefano Galea'i, originator of the Cultural Center's annual knife dance competition and accompanying Samoan Festival. To'omalatai won $2,000 as the first runner-up, and Maneafaiga won $1,000.

(l-r): Maneafaiga, Oloa and To'omalatai

Oloa, who was born in Honolulu, said he started learning the knife dance four years ago from his father. He has previously competed twice in the PCC competition as a junior, most recently placing second. This year he was scheduled to compete again as a junior, but "my father told me I have what it takes," and he decided to compete against the older, more experienced dancers — a bold and great move . . . but isn't that the essence of fire knife dancers in general.

To'omalatai started competing at the PCC in 1993 when he was 9 years old. He made it to the finals for the keiki or children's division that year, and has come back to Laie, Hawaii, five more times since then. "I want to take the trophy back to Samoa where it belongs," he said before the second finals performance.

Maneafaiga, who competed in three previous PCC competitions, said knife dancing "is something I always wanted to do since I was little," adding that one of the biggest challenges is "keeping focused and getting through it without any drops." He was also a semifinalist in 2003.

One question that lingers after this year's event: If Oloa is this good at 15, what's he going to be like in a few more years? You'll find the answer at a future Polynesian Cultural Center Samoan World Fire Knife Dance Championship. Oloa said he'll be back to defend his title.

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Saturday, May 14, 2005

13th annual Samoan Festival filled with fun, song, dance

The Polynesian Cultural Center's 13th annual Samoan Festival — held on Saturday, May 14, in conjunction with the PCC's Samoan World Fire Knife Dance Competition finals that evening — was marked by tauvaga or competition in such traditional skills as peeling green bananas with a bamboo knife (fofo'e fa'i), husking coconuts (o'a popo), weaving a coconut-leaf basket (lalaga 'ato launiu) and traditional firemaking (si'a afi). There was also a lauga or Samoan oratory competition.

Groups from four Oahu high schools — Moanalua, Waipahu, Kahuku and Farrington — entered into friendly competition marked by the Samoan virtue of fealofani — love for one another. Everyone on stage seemed to be having a great time; and to say that the full capacity crowd in the PCC's Pacific Theater also enjoyed the typical Samoan games doesn't do justice to just how much fun everyone had. Another surprise this year — contrasted with several years in the past: Some of the contestants actually completed the basket weaving and firemaking events.

And then there was the Samoan singing and dancing. As with the games, the high schools competed in costumes (toniga), comedian leaders (fa'aluma), musicians, synchronized dancing (sasa and mauluulu), and the solo female dance (taualuga taupo). Three senior groups — Brigham Young University Hawaii, which is adjacent to the Polynesian Cultural Center and supplies over half of the PCC's work force; the University of Hawaii/Manoa; and U.S.O.H., a Samoan cultural organization based in Honolulu — also performed but were not competing.

Overall honors in the competition went to:

• Kahuku High, 1st place
• Farrington High, 2nd place
• Waipahu High, 3rd place
• Moanalua High, 4th place (see other results)

Delsa Moe, the Polynesian Cultural Center's Director of Cultural Presentation who is originally from Samoa, pointed out that the emphasis on fealofani made a big impact, not only in helping them prepare for this year's annual event but also in completing their class work.

Robert Tiave Jr., a former PCC performer who helped the Farrington group prepare, explained: "It brings out their positive side and let's us know our culture is alive. The majority of these kids were born here, not in Samoa. In the Farrington club, Samoan is their second language. We also have Micronesians and Tongan kids involved, so our club is called Island Harmony."

"If it wasn't for the club and the study hall, a lot of these kids might not be passing," he added.

Before the awards were passed out at the end of the festival, Moe thanked all of the club advisors, instructors, parents, the students, "and all of you for coming."

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Friday, May 13, 2005

Senior finalists picked; keiki and junior champions named

LAIE, Hawaii — Following the second round of the Polynesian Cultural Center's Samoan World Fire Knife Championship on Friday, May 13, judges selected three finalists from among the senior division. The three, not in any order, are:

• Hogan To'omalatai of the independent nation of Samoa
• Brandon 'Fue' Maneafaiga from Waianae, Oahu
• Mikaele Oloa from Orlando, Florida

To'omalatai is a member of a Samoan knife dance club in Samoa who has previously competed in the PCC World Fire Knife Championship and currently dances in Samoa.

Maneafaiga is a Kapiolani Community College student who dances professionally at the Paradise Cove Luau.

Oloa is a 15-year-old high school sophomore who opted out of the junior category so he could try for the top prize during the finals on Saturday, May 15.

Each of the three finalists and the other six semi-finalists put on superb performances before an overflow crowd in the PCC's Hale Aloha amphitheater. It was one of those competitions where you wouldn't want to be a judge, where even one dropped fireknife might have made the difference.

For the finals on Saturday evening, the action moves into the PCC's main Pacific Theater where To'omalatai, Maneafaiga and Oloa will dance during the 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. evening shows. Their combined scores will determine the Samoan World Fire Knife Dance Champion, who will be named at the end of the second show.

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The keiki (children) and junior champions

It was evident from the absolutely awesome performances these young kids put on that the future of Samoan fireknife dancing is secure. It was definitely a "you should have seen it" event: They were incredible. The keiki ranged in age from 6-11, but their size didn't effect their speed, energy or skill. "They make it look so easy," said emcee Delsa Atoa Moe. "The kids in the junior category are going to have some tough competition when these kids turn 12."

The 2005 keiki category winners are:

• Dallin Muti of Laie, Hawaii: 1st place, which includes a $150 prize
• Larry 'Tui' Tuileta, 2nd place, which includes a $75 prize
• Philip Mauigoa, 3rd place, including a $50 prize.

The junior category boys, ages 12-17, were even more impressive, showing abilities with the flaming blades that go way beyond their chronological age. The 2005 junior category winners are:

• Via Tiumalu Jr., 1st place, which includes an $800 prize and a set of knives
• Malakai Lavata'i, 2nd place, which includes a $600 prize
• Jeurell Lavata'i, 3rd place, which includes a $400 prize

Congratulations to all.

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May 12, 2005

Judges name nine semifinalists

LAIE, Hawaii — After three hours of some of the world’s finest Samoan fireknife dancing before a lively and very appreciative full house in the Hale Aloha amphitheater on Thursday, May 12, nine young toa or warriors advanced to the semi-finals of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s world championship in the exciting Samoan art which has its origin in ancient battles.

• Jerome Slade from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
• Hogan To'omalatai from Samoa
• Latai Lesoa of Samoa
• Kapaneta Te'o-Tafiti from the Polynesian Cultural Center
• Mikaele Oloa from Orlando, Florida
• Trumaine Oto from Laie, home of the Polynesian Cultural Center
• David Galea'i of Laie
• Peter Whitney of Waianae, Oahu
• Brandon Maneafaiga of Waianae

Each of the semifinalists is guaranteed a $500 prize.

They will compete again on Friday evening, May 13, from which three of them will advance to the finals that will be held during each of two evening shows in the Polynesian Cultural Center’s main theater on Saturday, May 14. The PCC’s 13th annual World Fire Knife Champion will be named at the end of the second show.

Judges selected the nine semifinalists based on their use of traditional moves and actions, the smoothness and speed of their dance and the height of their tosses, among other factors, as well as the proper length of their knives and the presence of the lave or hook. Likewise, the judges penalized the dancers for dropping the flaming knives.

To say their individual performances were awesome just doesn’t do justice to the skill and bravery required to rapidly spin the flaming knives, sometimes catching them behind the back without the benefit of being able to see where the flames are.

Each of the dancers first performed with one knife, then doubled up, and one dancer even managed to handle three fireknives at one time.

Samoan chiefs greeted all of the competitors with traditional oratory at the beginning of the program, which also included a synchronized duo exhibit and a comedy fireknife routine while the judges’ scores were being tallied.

The semifinal competition follows the keiki (children ages 6-11) and junior (ages 12-17) championship competitions, which start May 13 at 7:45 p.m. in the Center’s Hale Aloha.

View 2004 World Fire Knife Championship Results>

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