GALEAI CROWNED WORLD FIREKNIFE CHAMPION AT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER

Teacher and Student Take Top Honors at Annual Competition

La‘ie – MAY 16, 2004 - The rain could not put a damper on the excitement in La‘ie as Alexander Galea‘i, 27, was crowned the World Fireknife Champion at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 12th annual competition last night.

Galea‘i, the son of the competition’s founder Pulefano Galea‘i and La‘ie resident, stunned the crowd with his death-defying skill and speed. After placing third in the 2003 competition, he showed he had learned a few new moves including a triple knife maneuver that drew gasps and cheers.

“After last year’s competition, I set goals for myself and I’m just overwhelmed to be here,” said Galea‘i. “It’s really an honor to share the stage with such great knife dancers.”

The competition was tight as each of the challengers tried to claim their spot as the world’s best. In a close decision of just two points difference, Tuione Tovo, 27, of Henderson, Nevada, placed second and following in third place was Jerome Slade, 19, of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i. Slade was the 2000 Junior Pacific Fireknife Champion.

Jaz Castillo, Alex’s student, also won a title this year. The 15-year-old Castle High School student was named the 2004 Junior Pacific Fireknife Champion on Friday at the PCC’s Hale Aloha Theater.

Each winner in the World Fireknife Championships received a check and other gifts including a specially made trophy fireknife. First place received $4,000, second place earned $2,000 and third place collected $1,000.

Sponsored by Cirque du Soleil, Coca-Cola, Electric Pencil, Hawaiian Airlines, Laie Inn, Henry S. Mataalii & Company, Turtle Bay Resort and the PCC, the annual competition drew nearly 8,000 spectators over the course of three days from around the world.

Visit the PCC website at www.polynesia.com for more information about all the events and competition results for this year’s Samoa Festival.

Since its beginning in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center has entertained more than 30 million visitors by preserving the spirit, culture and people of Polynesia. This week, all guests were invited to attend the Fireknife Competition and learn about the people and culture of Samoa through various other activities including the annual Samoan Arts Festival held on Saturday morning in the PCC’s Pacific Theater.