World Fireknife Dance Competition
Twinkle-toed dancers defy the obvious dangers to compete in the Polynesian Cultural Centre's annual Fireknife Dance Competition every year.
Dancers come from as far afield as the Cook Islands, Samoa and Florida to take part in one of the three separate age group competitions. Those aged 6-11 are known as tamaiti, 12-17 year olds are known as talavou and those older than 17 are the toa, or warriors.
The Fireknife dance was invented by Letuli Olo Misilagi when he was asked to perform the Samoan Knife Dance in San Francisco. There he combined his knife dancing routine, a traditional pre-war ritual designed to psyche up Polynesian warriors, with fire-eating and baton twirling, which he had observed while in San Francisco. The combination lead to the birth of the new medium.
| Venue Information: | Polynesian Cultural Centre |
|---|---|
| Full Name: | |
| A cultural centre representing the cultures of Hawaii, Samoa, Maori New Zealand (Aotearoa), Fiji, Tonga, Easter Island, Tahiti and the Marquesas (French Polynesia) which are spread over approximately 16 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Opened in 1963, the centre aims to answer some queations visitors may have about these cultures while providing entertainment and education. | |
| A number of different packages encompass a range of activities. There is a gift shop, nightly Luau and a number of different dining options. | |
| Address: | 55-370 Kamehameha Highway 96762 |
| Directions: | Located on Oahu's North Shore at 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, the Polynesian Cultural Center can be accessed by driving westbound on the H-1 freeway. Exit right at Likelike Highway (#63). Take the first right-hand exit (Kahekili Highway), which soon turns into Kamehameha Highway (#83). Enjoy 23 miles of scenery on #83. The Polynesian Cultural Center is on the mountain (mauka) side of the highway. |
| Contact Details: | Polynesian Cultural Centre |
| Email: | internetrez@polynesia.com |
| Phone: | +1 808 293 3333 |
| Other Information: | Polynesian Cultural Centre |
| Website: | Polynesian Cultural Centre Website |
| Name: | Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau |
|---|---|
| Location: | Hawaii |
| Address: | 2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 801, Honolulu, HI 96815-2568 |
| Email: | info@hvcb.org |
| Phone: | +1 808 923 1811 |
