The 32nd World Fireknife Championships concluded at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Thursday night in Lā‘ie.
Thursday's fireknife final was another part of the We Are Samoa festival, which brings in people from around the world to partake in Hawai‘i's largest annual celebratory event of Samoan culture.
Moeatalagi Schwenke of Sydney, Australia won the women's fireknife competition, while Lā‘ie native Aliyah Galea‘i-Ava was the runner-up. Rounding out the finalists was Emillie Elizabeth Lovett of Auckland, New Zealand, who finished in third.
In the men's competition, Wahiawā native Hale Motu'apuaka won for the fourth time in his career. The Punahou alumnus also took the title in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2025.
Rounding out the competition was Haukea Moua of Punaauia, Tahiti, who won the intermediate division (ages 12-17), while Seattle's Keanu Tap Toliniu won the junior division (ages 6-11).
Founded by PCC in 1993, the World Fireknife Championships is an annual competition aimed at honoring the Samoan tradition of fireknife dancing.
In addition to the World Fireknife Championships, the We Are Samoa festival also hosted six local high schools (Campbell, Kapolei, Kahuku, Radford, Nanakuli, Saint Louis), as well as King's Siva Academy in Brisbane, Australia, for a week of celebrating and perpetuating the Samoan culture through a bevy of activities.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
