Youngest Girl Takes Title in Teine Toa O Samoa Women's Competition
La‘ie, HI - May 14, 2008 – Two years in a row – it's a reoccurring theme with the boys from Orlando as they once again took the title of World's Best Duet at the 2008 World Fireknife Championships at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Kicking off an exciting weekend of Samoan skill and bravery at the Center's annual festival, Viavia Tiumalu Jr. and Mikaele Oloa showed why they are used to concurrent wins in this competition and collecting prize money and trophy fireknives. First it was the Junior and Senior titles respectively, and now they've teamed once again to top the playing field with a routine that included daring moves, acrobatics, specialty drumming and an attitude to win. And this is just the beginning for the two this weekend, as they will go head to head tomorrow night in the preliminaries of the World Fireknife Championships beginning at 7:45 p.m. in the PCC's Hale Aloha Theater to see if they can add to their $600 cash prize and beat out fellow Orlando competitor and returning champion Andrew "Umi" Sexton for the title of World's Best.
But the night wasn't only about the men. The ladies took the stage to show they can do just as well, if not better than the men in the 2nd Annual Teine Toa O Samoa women's competition. There were just four entrants, but it was an impressive group spanning the globe from Samoa all the way to Switzerland. In the end it was the most junior dancer in the bunch from Waihole, Hawai‘i who took the top honor after only training for a mere 7 months. Justeen Castillo, 16, showcased her skills by brandishing not just one or two knives, but three fire-lit knives that stole the show. Castillo has fireknife in the family, as her older brother Jaz Castillo took the top honor in the Junior Pacific Fireknife Championships in 2004. She also performed in the duet competition with her other brother Ua Mana Castillo, though they did not place. Second place went to Swiss student Janine Rothmund, 21, and third went to La‘ie's own Tinei Pili, also 21.
Second place in the duet competition went to the Lavatai brothers from Samoa. Despite the name of the competition indicating a pairs group, Malakai, Brandonlee and Jeurell Lavatai showed off with the power of three with a daring duel of knives and skill. In third place was Tahiti's Teai brothers, showcasing that fireknife is truly often a family affair. Even though they didn't win, a quartet from La‘ie stole the heart of the crowd with a high-energy, complex routine filled with acrobatics and attitude that livened up the competition.
The contest heats up even hotter tomorrow evening at 7:45 p.m. in the Hale Aloha Theater with the World Fireknife Championship preliminaries where more than 60 competitors will face off to become a semi-finalist for Friday's competition. Friday also features the keiki with challengers ranging in ages from 6-18. The entire competition culminates on Saturday night during the intermissions of the Horizons Night Show at both 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the PCC's Pacific Theater.
Video and photo clips are being posted throughout the competition on the PCC's website www.Polynesia.com in the "What's New" section so fans can track their favorites and share highlights with family and friends. Tickets can still be purchased for just $8 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3-11 for the Thursday and Friday competitions held in the Hale Aloha Theater. Saturday night's event can only be viewed with purchase of a ticket to the Horizons Night Show. Visit www.Polynesia.com for reservation information or call 800-367-7060. In Hawaii, call 808-293-3333.
Founded in 1963 as a non-profit organization, the PCC has entertained more than 33 million visitors, while preserving and portraying the culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia to the rest of the world. In addition, the PCC has provided financial assistance to 17,000 young people from over 70 different countries while they attend Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. As a non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC's revenue is used for daily operations and to support education.
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