


The Hawaiʻi Kuauli Pacific & Asia Cultural Festival along with our sponsors are proud to present the
5th Annual Le Kaua Ailao World Fireknife Competition!
Watch the skill and mastery of our champion fireknife dancers as they battle to be named the
Le Kaua Ailao Champion!
This is a qualifying competition for the World Fireknife Competition.
Tickets & Schedule
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Doors Open at 5 pm
Program Begins at 5:30 pm
Prices shown before taxes and credit card processing fees
2025 Competitor Information

2025 JUDGES

ALEX GALEAI
Alex Galeai is a man of many talents. Following in the footsteps of his father, Pulefano Galeai, Alex started his fire knife career at a young age, performing at the Polynesian Cultural Center and all around the world. Aside from being a former World Fire Knife Champion, Alex has gone on to master many other cultural arts such as music, drumming, dance, and language. His skills have led him to compete in different arenas, winning awards in different Tahitian Heiva competitions, Maori kapahaka competitions, and more. He currently resides in Laie, Hawaii with his wife Shannon and three children, sharing his talents as a teacher and instructor at BYU-Hawaii, as well as being a show leader and creative director for Tihati Productions.

DAVID GALEAI
David Galeaʻi is a 3x World Fire Knife Champion who has dedicated himself to serving and building our fire knife community. As the son of Tafili Galeaʻi, another fire knife legend in history, and the nephew of Pulefano Galeaʻi, David has done his fair share in paving the way for the future generations of the siva afi. As the founder and leader of Vaimatina fire knife school in Lāʻie, David teaches the kids of the North Shore the art of Samoan siva afi, but more so the cultural integrity of what has made the fire knife dance such a spectacle. David is also the co-founder of the Masters of the Flames fire knife competition series, as well as the leader of World Fire Knife productions that has a hand in consulting to the World Fire Knife Championships. He has served as a judge at multiple competitions in Japan, New Zealand, The Cook Islands, as well as the Siva Afi International competition in Samoa. He currently resides in his hometown of Lāʻie, Oʻahu with his beautiful family and serves as a cultural practitioner and consultant at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

TC THOMPSON
Born and raised in the cultured town of Laie, HI, TC grew up in the heart of Polynesian culture and entertainment on Oahu. As a long time performer and fire knife dancer for Tihati Productions, TC’s skills have seen numerous competition stages, as well as many stages around the world. He has since expanded his skills into being a production and operations manager, while honing his artistic talents in being an amazing tattoo artist, stage decor and props designer, as well as an extremely skilled woods worker and fire knife maker. He currently resides in Makawao, Maui with his beautiful family as an island manager for Tihati Productions.
2025 PRIZES
MATUA
(Males Ages 18 +)
FIRST PLACE
$2,500
Specialty Single Fireknife
SECOND PLACE
$1,500
Specialty Single Fireknife
THIRD PLACE
$1,000
Specialty Single Fireknife
VAITAIMI
(Males Ages 11-17)
FIRST PLACE
$1,200
Specialty Single Fireknife
SECOND PLACE
$800
Specialty Single Fireknife
THIRD PLACE
$500
Specialty Single Fireknife
LE KAUA AILAO CHAMPIONS
2025 Vaitaimi

1st Place
Lanikaula Woodward
2nd Place
Lopaki Makiao
3rd Place
Keaka Brewster
2024 Vaitaimi

1st Place
Lanikaula Woodward
2nd Place
King Jreh Tanuvasa
3rd Place
Kali Volavola
2023 Vaitaimi

1st Place
Tua Moananu
2nd Place
Lanikaula Woodward
3rd Place
Etana Lopez
2022 Vaitaimi

1st Place
Toa Milford
2nd Place
Lanikaula Woodward
3rd Place
Tua Moananu
2021 Vaitaimi

1st Place
Carmine Taetuna-Fautanu
2nd Place
Makoa Nielsen-Cabagason
3rd Place
Kekai Nielsen-Cabagason
2025 Matua

1st Place
Matuni Vaiaoga
2nd Place
Kepanipa'a Damaso
3rd Place
Toa Milford
2024 Matua

1st Place
Matuni Vaiaoga
2nd Place
Carmine Taetuna Fautanu
3rd Place
Wallen Te'o
2023 Matua

1st Place
VJ Tiumalu Jr.
2nd Place
Carmine Taetuna-Fautanu
3rd Place
Kepanipa'a Demaso
Matuni Vaiaoga

1st Place
Matuni Vaiaoga
2nd Place
Kepanipa'a Demaso
3rd Place
Peleiholani Brown
2021 Matua

1st Place
Peleiholani Brown
2nd Place
Wallen Te'o
3rd Place
Kuinise Leiataua Jr.