After winning the title last year, Joseph Cadousteau of Tahiti, protected his title and won the 21st annual World Fire Knife Championship, beating out four-time world champion Mikaele Oloa of Wailua, Hawaii, and Malo Matau of Laie. “It is such an honor to be recognized as a World Fire Knife Champion again and to have competed against the best fire knife dancers from around the world,” said Cadousteau in a news release. “The opportunity to compete for this title makes this competition the one that we as fire knife dancers, look forward to every year.” Fire knife dancers gathered from all around the world on May 8 –11 to compete for the title of World Fire Knife Champion at the Polynesian Cultural Center. “Warriors” as they are often called, came from as far away as Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in hopes to earn bragging rights as the world’s best fire knife performer. The Samoan fire knife dance is a modern variation of traditional Samoan warrior techniques. Today, fire knife dancers use the nifo oti, a lightweight three-foot staff, with a lave, or hook, on one end. Both ends are wrapped in towels and lit on fire. Since its inception in 1994, PCC along with other sponsors have worked together to bring the very fire knife performers from around the world. Seui Suafi, a local community member says she comes every year to cheer on the local participants and to enjoy the great fire knife dancing. The finals for the championship were held Friday and Saturday night. The three finalists were selected on Friday night and after the performance on Saturday, the results were announced. Both Cadousteau and Oloa were veterans of the competition, but 18-year-old Matau was competing for the first time in the senior division. The competitors were evaluated by a panel of judges and their routines were judged based upon the traditional and originality of the moves, rotation speed of the knife and the height of the throws. Cadousteau, Oloa and Matau performed during the intermission of the “Ha: Breath of Life” show and were greeted by thunderous applause. The three finalists performed a single knife routine as well as a double knife routine. After deliberating, the judges crowned Cadousteau the winner of 2013 World Fire Knife Championship. Oloa and Cadousteau were both awarded second place. Casey James Kahelemauna Akana, a sophomore studying accounting from Seattle, Wash., said, “I loved seeing the excitement of the crowd, it was amazing. Definitely one of the best performances I’ve seen.” In addition to the adult competition, a junior and intermediate competition were held Thursday, May 9. The junior division competitors were between the ages of 6-11, and the intermediate division was open to competitors between the ages of 12-17. The winners of the junior division were, Dayton Daoang of Waipahu, Aaliyah Ava of Laie and Chandae Ava of Laie. In the intermediate division the winners were Achilles Tafiti of Laie, Hale Motuapuaka of Aiea and Wallen Te’o of Honolulu. First place winners were awarded a check for 8,000 dollars as well as a custom fire knife. Christina Taleni a junior, studying communications and peacebuilding, from Sydney, Australia said, “It was so cute to see all the little kids fire knife. They were really good for being so young.”
Writer: Homer Wolman~Multimedia Journalist
