This May, the world's most talented fireknife dancers will come together for the Polynesian Cultural Center's (PCC) 18th Annual World Fireknife Championships to amaze the audience and once again turn up the heat as they battle to see who will be crowned champion. Acrobatic moves, death-defying stunts, rhythmic dancing and fire-lit knives combine to make this a must see event.
From May 12 through May 15, dancers of all ages will tempt fate as they try to avoid the dangerous fireknives in a competition of skill and bravery. For the first time, the champion will be decided with a two-night finale.
The preliminary competition will take place on Wednesday, May 12, with semi-finals, duet and junior competitions taking place on Thursday, May 13 at PCC's Hale Aloha Theater beginning at 7:45 p.m. for both nights. The finalists will then take part in a two-day battle for the championship. Finals will start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14 at PCC's Pacific Theater during intermission of the Ha: Breath of Life evening show. The top three will battle again for the championship title on the last night of competition on Saturday, May 15, also during the evening show's intermission. The 2010 World Fireknife Champion will be declared at the conclusion of the show with a prestigious victory ceremony held in their honor.
"Every year the performers reinvent the art of fireknife and take the competition to a whole new level, which is what makes the World Fireknife Championships such an exciting event," said Logo Apelu, vice president of operations for PCC. "Many families have been passing the art of fireknife dancing down for generations and as a result, most of these performers were practically born with a fireknife in their hands. Their passion for the art and their much-practiced skill really shines during their performances."
The modern fireknife dance stemmed from the Samoan ailao - a warrior's knife dance performed with the nifo oti, or "tooth of death." This dance was displayed before battle to frighten the enemy and afterwards to celebrate victory. Today, the art of fireknife dancing has become one of the most intense, skillful and beautiful Samoan traditions. The modern dance consists of twirling a sharp knife, with both ends on fire, at high speeds and requires acute precision and acrobatic finesse. The fire is very real, and dancers often and some times intentionally make contact with the flames.
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 Hawaii high school students will demonstrate their own cultural knowledge of Samoan traditions with exhibitions in basket weaving, coconut husking and fire making among other events. The festival will be held at the Pacific Theater beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, prior to the World Fireknife Championships face-off that evening.
This year's event is sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, Henry S. Mataalii Company, Turtle Bay Resort, Edwards Enterprises, Pepsi, the City County of Honolulu, Hawai'i Tourism Authority and Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore.
Admission to the event is $10 for adults, ages 15 and up, and $6 for keiki ages five to 14. Kamaaina Annual Pass holders get in free. To join in on the final two nights of competition, visitors must purchase a reserved seating ticket to the Ha: Breath of Life night show each evening. Ticket prices begin at $45. Advanced reservations are highly recommended as the event sells out every year.
For more information or to make reservations, please call the Polynesian Cultural Center ticket office at (808) 367-7060 or visit www.polynesia.com. In Hawaii, call (808) 293-3333.
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 34 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 over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.
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