Witness The Heat At The 32nd World Fireknife Championships At The Polynesian Cultural Center
Media Advisory
April 15, 2025
WHAT: Polynesian Cultural Center presents the We Are Samoa Festival, Hawai‘i’s largest Samoan cultural gathering and premier showcase of Samoa’s traditions. The festival is highlighted by two major events celebrating the cultural traditions of the Samoan people:
2025 World Fireknife Championships
Talented fireknife dancers from across the United States as well as Samoa, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Japan will come together at the Polynesian Cultural Center for four nights of heated competition. From as young as six years old to the most experienced and celebrated performers, competitors will compete in their respective divisions seeking to win the coveted title of World Fireknife Champion. Attendees will be treated to a cultural experience unlike any other, and the best of the best will be crowned a World Champion in Junior and Intermediate, Women’s and Men’s Divisions.
We Are Samoa High School Arts Festival
Hawai‘i high school students of all ancestry will demonstrate their knowledge of Samoa’s culture by participating in a series of traditional practices including protocol and speech making, basket weaving, coconut husking and fire making, costuming, singing, dance and interpretation. The high schools participating in this year’s Arts Festival include:
- Campbell High School
- ILH Poly Club
- Kapolei High School
- Kahuku High & Intermediate School
- Radford High School
- Nanakuli High School
- Saint Louis School
- King’s Siva Academy, Brisbane, Australia
WHEN: Wednesday, May 7; Saturday, May 10; Tuesday, May 13 - Thursday, May 15
MEDIA INFORMATION: Media interested in covering the various events as part of the 2025 World Fireknife Championships and interview participants, must RSVP to Shere’e Quitevis at Sheree.Quitevis@FinnPartners.com by Wednesday, April 30.
2025 World Fireknife Championships Schedule
- Wednesday, May 7 | 6:30 p.m. – Pacific Theater
Junior and Intermediate Competition -
Tuesday, May 13 | 9:00 a.m. – Pacific Theater
Qualifying Round for Men’s Division - Wednesday, May 14 | 6:30 p.m. – Pacific Theater
Men’s Preliminaries (Top 20) & Women’s Competition -
Thursday, May 15 | 7:30 p.m. – Pacific Theater
Menʻs Finals
We Are Samoa High School Arts Festival
- Saturday, May 10 | 9:00 a.m. – Pacific Theater
WHERE: Polynesian Cultural Center, 55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lā‘ie, Hawai‘i
ADMISSION: Event tickets to attend the Junior and Intermediate on May 7 and Men’s Preliminaries and Women Competition for the World Fireknife Championships on May 14 are $15 for all ages.
Tickets to the We Are Samoa High School Arts Festival on May 10 are sold out but it will be available via livestream on PCC’s Facebook page.
Tickets for the Menʻs Division Finals of the World Fireknife Championships on May 15 during intermission of the evening show, Hā: Breath of Life, start at $94.95 for general admission, special pricing is offered to ‘Ohana Club members. The ticket cost includes admission to the evening show. To purchase tickets online, visit https://worldfireknife.com/tickets.
For more information, call the box office at (800) 367-7060 or visit www.polynesia.com. In Hawai‘i, call (808) 293-3333. To receive updates, event invitations and promotions, join the ‘Ohana Club for free here.
ABOUT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Located on O‘ahu’s beautiful North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is the only cultural attraction of its kind in the world and a favorite of both locals and visitors to Hawai‘i. An engaging, interactive celebration showcasing the people, culture, arts and crafts of Polynesia, the PCC has entertained millions of visitors from around the world since opening in 1963. A non-profit organization, 100 percent of PCC’s revenue goes to daily operations and to support the education of its student-employees from neighboring Brigham Young University-Hawaii. For more information, visit www.Polynesia.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Shere’e Quitevis
Anthology FINN Partners
(808) 741-1668
Sheree.Quitevis@FinnPartners.com