Fireknife contest sure to thrill at Polynesian CC

Fire, knives and acrobatic dancing probably don’t sound like a safe mix. But combine those elements with a crescendo of pounding drums — along with perhaps a cut or slight burn — and you’ve got the World Fireknife Championships.

The 23rd annual competition celebrates a luau entertainment staple whose roots go back centuries to when Samoan warriors wielded the wooden "nifo oti," or "deadly tooth." The event will heat up the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie starting Thursday and is expected to attract 8,000 spectators over the course of three days. It is being held in conjunction with the Samoan High School Cultural Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

"There’s really no other competition like this in the world," said Alfred Grace, PCC president and CEO, in an email. "Like any athletic competition, the very best in the world at fireknife dancing perform at a high level that very few ever attain.

"For competitors, especially those of Polynesian descent, fireknife dancing is a challenge that goes to the very core of their heritage, one that takes courage to attempt and a rare God-given talent to succeed. For spectators, seeing world-class competitors perform, like they will at the World Fire­knife Championships, the experience is enthralling."

Via Tiu­malu Jr., 23, of Orlando, Fla., who twirled and danced his way to the senior division crown last year, is returning to seek his fourth world title. He also won in 2008 and 2011.

The 50 competitors range in age from 6 to 30 and represent Hawaii, Tahiti, Cali­for­nia, Florida, Pittsburgh, Japan and Hong Kong. There are 22 participants in the open division; 15 in the older junior division (ages 12-17), including three girls; and 13 in the younger junior division (6-11).

Modern fireknife dancing came into being in 1946 when Freddie Letuli, performing in San Francisco, added flaming pads to the end of his knives after watching a Hindu fire eater and a baton twirler, according to the World Fireknife website. Centuries earlier, Samoan warriors had combined the nifo oti with the "lave," or hook, to snag enemies.

Today it’s far more civilized, but an element of danger still exists.

The fireknives used in dancing have a sharp hook at the end and are 37 inches long, including a 25-inch dowel handle. Many dancers use a plain cotton towel that is wired to the blades and soaked in camp or lantern fuel.

When performers twirl the flaming knives, they must catch the weapons in the middle of the dowel to avoid getting burned.

The action on Thursday and Friday nights will convene in the Hale Aloha luau venue. On Saturday night the top three finalists in the senior division will perform during intermission of the "Ha: Breath of Life" show.

Also on Saturday, hundreds of Oahu high school students will demonstrate their knowledge of Samoan culture by competing in traditional practices at the center’s Pacific Theater.