{"id":210622,"date":"2026-05-14T02:09:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/kauai-teen-takes-second-in-intermediate-division-of-world-fireknife-championship-kauai-now\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T02:09:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T02:09:54","slug":"kauai-teen-takes-second-in-intermediate-division-of-world-fireknife-championship-kauai-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/kauai-teen-takes-second-in-intermediate-division-of-world-fireknife-championship-kauai-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaua\u2018i teen takes second in Intermediate Division of World Fireknife Championship &#8211; Kauai Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/privacy\">Privacy Policy<\/a> | <a href=\"\/about-our-ads\">About Our Ads<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"plattenite-article plattenite-article-content\" data-plattenite-article=\"true\">\n<p>A teen from Kapa\u2018a captured second place in the Intermediate Division during the 33rd annual World Fireknife Championships.<\/p>\n<p>The competition on O\u2018ahu at the Polynesian Cultural Center brought in competitors of all ages. On May 6, 30 youth competitors ages 6 to 17 took center stage, showcasing the next generation of talent.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/media.kauainownews.com\/file\/kauainow\/2026\/05\/fireknife-compeittion-featured-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-92408\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cyson Lanikaula Woodward. (Photo courtesy: Polynesian Cultural Center)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Junior and Intermediate Divisions each featured 15 &#8220;remarkably skilled warriors.&#8221; The 2023 champion, Cyson Lanikaula Woodward, 17, of Kapa\u2018a, came back this year to snag second place behind Mamalu Lilo of \u2018Ewa Beach on O\u2018ahu.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"adBreak mobile-only mobileFullWidth\"><span><b>ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-0\" class=\"ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{\n    googleAds.show(\"\/25189245\/kauainow-sidebar-1\",\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-0\",[[300,250],[300,600]],{\n        mobileOnly:true,\n        callback:function(event){ \n            if(event.slot.getSlotElementId() !== \"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-0\") return;\n            if(event.isEmpty){\n                if(document.getElementById(\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-0\"))\n                {\n                    document.getElementById(\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-0\").parentNode.style.setProperty(\"display\",\"none\",\"important\");\n                }\n            }\n        }\n    });\n  },true);<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"adBreak desktop-only\"><span><b>ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-1\" class=\"ad\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{\n    googleAds.show(\"\/25189245\/kauainow-sidebar-1\",\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-1\",[[300,250]],{\n        desktopOnly:true,\n        callback:function(event){\n            if(event.isEmpty){<\/p>\n<p>                document.getElementById(\"div-gpt-ad-1615054580015-1\").parentNode.style.setProperty(\"display\",\"none\",\"important\");<\/p>\n<p>            }<\/p>\n<p>        }\n    });\n  },true);<\/script><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p>The competition continues today, and Thursday, May 14, with the Women&#8217;s and Men&#8217;s Division.<\/p>\n<p>The World Fireknife Championship was established by the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1993 to showcase this proud Samoan tradition and encourage future generations to perpetuate this amazing combination of artistry, acrobatics, skill and bravery, according to a news release from the cultural center. Fireknife dancing is rooted in the Samoan ailao, a warrior knife dance traditionally performed before battle utilizing the nifo oti, or \u201ctooth of death.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All participants received prize packages, with the top three in each division earning fireknife-themed trophies in recognition of their standout performances.<\/p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"mn_videoad_midarticle\" class=\"ad_video ad_video_homepage mobileFullWidth ad_video_v2\">\n<div class=\"adBreak\"><span><b>ADVERTISEMENT<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mn_videoad_holder\"><video playsinline webkit-playsinline id=\"vastplayer\" muted=\"muted\" loop=\"true\"><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",()=>{\n  new vastads2(\"mn_videoad_midarticle\",\"https:\/\/pubads.g.doubleclick.net\/gampad\/ads?iu=\/25189245\/kn-video&description_url=https%3A%2F%2Fkauainownews.com&env=vp&impl=s&tfcd=0&npa=0&gdfp_req=1&output=vast&sz=640x480&unviewed_position_start=1\");\n},true);<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe World Fireknife Championship showcases not only incredible skill and athleticism, but also the strength of Samoan culture and storytelling,\u201d said Delsa Moe, Vice President of Cultural Presentations. \u201cSeeing these young performers step onto the stage with such pride and commitment reminds us how important it is to preserve and share these traditions for future generations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>See full results for the Junior and Intermediate Divisions below:<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Junior Division (ages 6-11)<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First place: Mathias Svenson, Tahiti<\/li>\n<li>Second place: Tagaloa Fanene-Martin, Seattle, WA<\/li>\n<li>Third place: Manatea Ferrand, Tahiti<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intermediate Division (ages 12-17)<\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First place: Mamalu Lilo, \u2018Ewa Beach, O\u2018ahu<\/li>\n<li>Second place: Cyson Lanikaula Woodward, Kapa\u2018a<\/li>\n<li>Third place: King Jirah Tanuvasa, \u2018Ewa Beach, O\u2018ahu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information about the World Fireknife Championship, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldfireknife.com\">www.worldfireknife.com<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A teen from Kapa\u2018a captured second place in the Intermediate Division during the 33rd annual World Fireknife Championships.<br \/>The competition on O\u2018ahu at the Polynesian Cultural Center brought in competitors of all ages. On May 6, 30 youth competitors ages 6 to 17 took center stage, showcasing the next generation of talent.<br \/>The Junior and Intermediate Divisions each featured 15 &#8220;remarkably skilled warriors.&#8221; The 2023 champion, Cyson Lanikaula Woodward, 17, of Kapa\u2018a, came back this year to snag second place behind Mamalu Lilo of \u2018Ewa Beach on O\u2018ahu.<br \/>The competition continues today, and Thursday, May 14, with the Women&#8217;s and Men&#8217;s Division.<br \/>The World Fireknife Championship was established by the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1993 to showcase this proud Samoan tradition and encourage future generations to perpetuate this amazing combination of artistry, acrobatics, skill and bravery, according to a news release from the cultural center. Fireknife dancing is rooted in the Samoan ailao, a warrior knife dance traditionally performed before battle utilizing the nifo oti, or \u201ctooth of death.\u201d<br \/>All participants received prize packages, with the top three in each division earning fireknife-themed trophies in recognition of their standout performances.<br \/>\u201cThe World Fireknife Championship showcases not only incredible skill and athleticism, but also the strength of Samoan culture and storytelling,\u201d said Delsa Moe, Vice President of Cultural Presentations. \u201cSeeing these young performers step onto the stage with such pride and commitment reminds us how important it is to preserve and share these traditions for future generations.\u201d<br \/>See full results for the Junior and Intermediate Divisions below:<br \/>For more information about the World Fireknife Championship, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldfireknife.com\">www.worldfireknife.com<\/a>.<br \/>                           <a 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The competition on O\u2018ahu at the Polynesian Cultural Center brought in competitors of all ages. On May 6, 30 youth competitors ages 6 to 17 took center stage, showcasing the next [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":210623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-210622","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210622"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210622\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210622"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210622"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}