The Polynesian Cultural Center recently held its Employee Fireknife Competition on April 15. This annual event invites every employee to participate, and it honors the ancient ailao, which is a traditional Samoan warrior dance.
This not only provided an opportunity for BYU–Hawaii students to immerse themselves in the Samoan culture, but also acted as a prep stage for the official World Fireknife Championship that’s held every May in the PCC, where the best fireknife performers in the world attend to compete to be the best. Students who participated in the Employee Fireknife Competition may try out for the World Championship if they choose, and one such student endeavors to do just that.
The top two student performers in both men’s and women’s divisions shared about their preparation and experience.
Men’s Division
Nam Nguyen, a junior from Vietnam majoring in accounting and finance, won first place in his performance of “doubles.” The doubles category requires one to perform with two fire knives, one in each hand, instead of one. When asked about his preparation to accomplish such a feat, Nguyen said this:
“Practicing with a real knife is much harder than practicing with a stick, and after that, you add fire,” Nguyen said. “Then you have to learn in the daytime and at night, which is completely different because sometimes you can barely see. You have to build muscle memory through repetition. I practiced hundreds of times with fire at night before I was ready for the competition. Then performing on stage adds another challenge because of the pressure from the crowd. All of those stages—practice, fire, night training, and competition—help you become more confident and natural as a dancer.”
Nguyen revealed that fireknife dancing is far more than spectacle; it is an art built on discipline, repetition, and courage. From mastering live blades to rehearsing with fire in near darkness, his preparation reflected the intensity behind a performance that lasts only minutes on stage. For Nguyen, winning doubles was not simply the result of talent, but the product of hundreds of repetitions, unwavering focus and a willingness to embrace the risks and rigor of the craft.
Women’s Division
Havana Lesatele, a junior from Samoa majoring in biology, claimed first place in the women’s division. For Lesatele, the Employee Fireknife Competition was more than just a showcase of her talent and skill; it was to prepare herself for the biggest stage—the World Fireknife Competition. Even though it will be her first time competing at such an ambitious event, she said that performing for the crowd, her friends and family, is the best feeling ever.
Lesatele also shared that her journey into fireknife began as something deeply personal. She said it became a way for her to cope with the loss of her late grandmother, Faalua Umu Maifiti, giving her training and performances even greater meaning.
When asked about her journey, Lesatele recalls the constant practice that accompanied her with every drop of the knife. “When I first started, I dropped the knife almost 90 percent of the time,” Lesatele said. “Now it’s closer to 70 good and 30 mistakes. And if I do drop the knife on stage, I try to make it look like part of the routine. Dropping can cost points, but if you recover well, you can turn it into part of the performance.”
Despite fireknife being a male-dominated sport, Lesatele doesn’t let that intimidate her, saying that if men can do it, she can do it too. “BYU–Hawaii has taught me that there are no limits to what you can become,” Lesatele said. “Growing up, I was taught that education is a big part of life,” she said. “But when I came to BYU–Hawaii, I learned that education, the gospel, and discovering your talents all work together.” She continued, “Fireknife is a talent I picked up here after seeing other students spin, and it became something I developed because of this place.”
More Than a Competition
More than a competition, the fireknife event showcased the discipline, cultural pride, and personal growth behind each performance. Through their dedication, Nam Nguyen and Havana Lesatele both became conquerors of the flame, while also being forged by it.
“BYU–Hawaii is about lifelong learning,” Nguyen said. “With fireknife, you become an active learner. You don’t give up when you drop a move—everyone drops at some point. Similar to how life goes, you pick it up and keep going. Don’t give up.”