La'ie, HI – May 17, 2008 – In a flawless routine that grabbed the audience with its fiery spirit and never let them down, Orlando's Viavia Tiumalu, Jr. captured the title of World's Best at the Polynesian Cultural Center's 16th Annual World Fireknife Championships tonight. It's fitting that the 16-year-old would win top honors in the competition that was started the year he was born, while also following in the footsteps of his first cousin, best friend and winning duet partner Mikaele Oloa.
Oloa was the first 16-year-old to capture the senior title in 2005, choosing to waive his participation in the junior competition to test his skills with the over 18 crowd. Tiumalu did the same last year after winning back-to-back junior titles in 2005-2006, but only made it to the semi-finals in the tough field of competitors. This year, he came prepared to win and it showed.
Now 18, Oloa placed second in this year's competition after sitting out one year as required by the rules for winning back-to-back titles. Tiumalu and Oloa also took home the title of duet champion for the second year in a row on Wednesday, kicking off a winning week for the two. Third place went to perennial finalist Joseph Cadousteau, 28, of Papeete, Tahiti, who placed in the top three for the fourth time in a row.
"It was a really exciting competition this year," said Delsa Moe, PCC's director of cultural presentations and one of the program emcees. "The difference in the scores was so low. Probably the number of drops determined who won tonight. Everyone was really impressive and this competition just gets better and better. You would think that can't happen, but they just kick it up another notch each year."
Video and photo clips were posted throughout the competition on the PCC's website www.Polynesia.com in the "What's New" section so fans can relive their favorite moments, comment and share highlights with family and friends.
Sponsored by Henry S. Mataalii family, Hawaiian Airlines, Turtle Bay Resort, Electric Pencil, Cirque du Soleil, Pepsi, Bank of Hawaii, Galumalemana Lester W.B. Moore, June Fabrics, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Western Union and the City and County of Honolulu, this annual competition drew more than 10,000 spectators from around the world throughout its 4 days this year.
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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