Fierce warriors have set a venue on fire (not literally) by competing at the World Fire Knife Championships at Polynesian Cultural Centre in Laie Hawai’i.
Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos
The Polynesian Cultural Center was full of cheers, whoops of joy and clapping from spectators watching live and livestreaming the junior and intermediate World Fireknife Championship on April 28.
Three-time champion and teacher, David Galeai, expressed how proud he was of the competitors and his students performances. He taught contestants Shogo Faleavai, Mateya Ale, Thea Rose Lazaro, Tarita Galeai, Manasseh Tuliloa and Tetupuariki Akanoa, he said.
“They did a good job. They overcame fear, and when they got off the stage, they were 10 times more confident,” Galeai said.
He shared one of his students was nervous because he was competing for the first time. Fireknife dancing isn’t easy, he said, because dancers are on their own and have to conquer their fears with no one to do it for them.