After winning the World Fireknife Championship last year — Tahiti’s first victory — Joseph Cadousteau held onto his title at the 21st annual championship Saturday at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Championship officials said this year’s "frighteningly courageous world-class performances" provided for a fierce competition among the three finalists.
"The competition was so tight that for the first time in the competition’s history, a tie was awarded for second place," said Steve Laulu, one of the event’s emcees.
"The level of talent and commitment that these competitors bring each year is truly what makes the World Fireknife Championships a world-renowned competition."
Cadousteau, 33, overcame four-time champion Mikaele Oloa, 23, and top-tier first-timer Malo Matau, 18, to secure the 2013 title. He also holds four second-place titles (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) and one third-place title (2008).
"It is such an honor to be recognized as a World Fireknife Champion again and to have competed against the best fireknife dancers from around the world," Cadousteau, of Papeete, Tahiti, said Sunday in a news release. "The opportunity to compete for this title makes this competition the one that we, as fireknife dancers, look forward to every year."
Hundreds of fans tuned in from all over the world to watch the championships live for a second year in a row on Worldfireknife.com, competition officials said.
Oloa, formerly of Florida and now residing in Waialua, won the People’s Choice Award, which allowed fans to vote online for their favorite of the three finalists.
Ola took home the competition title in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, and came in second in 2008 and 2012. He also earned first place in the group division in 2008.
Last year Cadousteau became the first competitor to win both the open and group division championships. His teammate in the group competition was Micah Naruo, a Honolulu native who joined Cirque du Soleil in 2008 as a fire-dancer and performed in "Alegria" when it came to the Blaisdell Arena in 2010.
Matau, of Laie, who tied Oloa this year for second place, competed in the open division for the first time. He previously earned the Junior Pacific Division Championship in 2011.
The modern fireknife dance is modeled off of the Samoan "ailao," a warrior’s knife dance performed with the "nifo oti," or "tooth of death."
Warriors would do the dance before battle to terrify enemies and perform it afterward to celebrate victory.
Event officials said the fireknife dance has become one of the most intense, skillful and beautiful Samoan traditions.
