The Fire Knife Dance: The Story Behind the Flames Ta'alolo to Nifo'oti

By Chief Pulefanolefolasa F. Galea'i and Donna Manz

The book expresses the history of the Samoan fire knife dance (Samoan Ailao), from the time it was a victory ceremony of war to its modern day form. The explanation of the weapon nifooti (the deadly tooth or cutting tooth) is defined. The book elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditional to creative or a modern style, it also define how to build the actual knife itself. It also expresses how to formulate a dancing routine from its simplest stages to become a professional, to prepare the knife and body to take on the challenge to compete against the worlds best. The steps of dancing with one, two, three and four knives are mentioned. It elaborate of how to perform with safety for the performer and spectators, it expresses the rules and criteria and how to build champions from broom sticks to the real nioti. The fire knife dance book I hope will satisfy all about the dance ailao, its origin and the story behind the flames.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781493167821

Chief Pulefanolefolasa F. Galea'i

Pulefano F.L. Galeai Pulefano was born on April 4, 1945 in the village of Mapusaga (peaceful) American Samoa. Pulefano learned and acquired all his cultural background including the ailao (twirl) from his father and grandfather. In 1954 Pulefano arrived in Hawaii and lived in a small Mormon community in the north shore, Laie. At age 9 Pulefano volunteered to work for the Hukilau Luau alongside his parents (a native Hawaiian feast), in cooking, ceremony, dancing, singing and performing the knife dance. Pulefano learing all he could from his father taught and instructed many others. In 1959, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Tapa-Room dir of entertainment Mr. Glenn Hughes and his wife visited Pulefano’s father’s searching for new talent, his father prompted him to do his best with the knife dance, it was the first time Pulefano danced with fire not knowing what will be the outcome. I went with the Hughes to Waikiki to become the youngest fire knife dancer in the world as the billing indicated. Pulefano’s career has just begun, his eyes never seen the glamour of show biz, within six months, he and his brother were hired by almost every major hotel that had a Polynesian production in Waikiki. Pulefano attended the BYU-H for a couple of semesters but his career as a knife dancer demanded, he worked for the Hawaiian Eye and Follow the Sun series and a regular on Lucky Luck’s world televised Luau. He later went to Hollywood to work for the 20th Century Fox film Corporation to dance and act in various serious, then the CBS Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Bowl with the Polynesian Cultural Center’s, with governor Ariyohi in the singing of the sister State with Okinawa, twice to the Lord Mayor’s Command Performance in Australia, invited twice to perform for the festivals of the Pacific Arts in Australia and New Zealand, assisted in the finale and Flaming Sword Competition in American Samoa, twice through the military oversea shows to Canton, Midway and Johnston Islands, also as a travel and insurance consultant in Conn and Mass. Won his first World title in 1964 in Hawaii and second in American Samoa Intercontinental by Office of Tourism. Since Pulefano been back to Hawaii he is the founder of the world fire knife championship 1993, the Kaua’i Poly festival fire knife competition, helped organized the American Samoa Flaming Sword Competition, the Anaheim Flaming Sword competition and lastly the fire knife competition of Maui and soon in 2014 the World Fire Knife Tournament of the Champions “Ua Pa le Lagi” the explosion from heaven in Waikiki with Papali’itele, Seiuli, To’oa and the lady who ties it altogether Cha Thompson, Tihati’s Production. Also in Hawaii Pulefano has organized and directed the Samoan Idol “Se na Pesemaia”, the Senior Citizen’s Got talent, chairman of the Samoa Mo Samoa Tupulaga Festival, the We Are Samoa festival, a community consultant to Dr. Posiulai, Tina’s Alamai Conference UH, recipient of the first Star of Oceania award UH, the Amakua Award by Dr. Stagner and the Life Time Treasure award by the Polynesian Cultural center. Pulefano has done translation work for court cases and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in Weaver Base, Hawaii. In accordance with Pulefano all the things he has learned and acquired is through the divine guidance and love of his Heavenly Father, Pulefano has kept the faith and builds the Lord’s Kingdom even through all travel’s and contracts, Pulefano served twelve years in bishoprics, eight years as a high counselor among many others. A Life Scout recipient and Scout Master, Yes, his life is filled with glorious experiences that he will forever hold on to.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Pulefano F. L. Galea\’i. 137405-GALE

ISBN:   Softcover       978-1-4931-6783-8

             Hardcover     978-1-4931-6785-2

             EBook           978-1-4931-6782-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 01/14/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

By Chief Pulefano Feagaima’ali’i Galea’i

Donna Manz

First North American Book Rights

Donna Manz

PO Box 1015

Vienna, VA 22182

703.217.7745

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FIRE KNIFE DANCE

Ta`alolo to Siva Nifo`oti Afi

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A Cultural Interpretation of the Story behind the Flames

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By Chief Pulefanolefolasa F. Galea`i

Donna Manz

Copy righted 2005

First Norty AmericanBook Right

My desire and reason Talofa,

This book is written to secure a record of the nifo’oti’s (deadly tooth) origin; its transformation from a war weapon to a dancing instrument; and the original ceremony from which the nifo’oti, the tuiga, and the knife dance was derived through the many years of studying it, performing it, teaching about it, building dancing knives and trophy knives, and writing about it.

At age 10, I was taught by my father, Tuia Feagaimaalii Galea’i, the history of the ailao, and he even took the time to teach me the fundamental of the art, which helped me acquire a knowledge that was foreign to me. After learning the art since 1957 and performing it throughout the world, I was inspired to write about the knowledge and skills I’ve acquired through the years with the tender help of my wife, Susan.

In 1994, I started to materialize the inspiration. Therefore, this book of instructions, I hope, will help warriors in the years to come to understand what and how the knife dance was passed on from ancient times to the modern generation of entertainers. With these instructions, I hope the warriors can perform this great art with dignity and respect in this competitive world ahead, that they may have the passion and real respect than to dance without knowing its origin and what it took to shape the final product. It will help maintain and encourage all who dance to improve and become successful knife dancers and to preserve the culture of Samoa. It is a sport that brings warriors together in harmony and bonds them in friendship and brotherhood for a lifetime to come.

Pulefano

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In Loving Memory of my father High Chief Galea’i, Tu’ia Feagaima’ali’i

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Dad has been the inspiration of my life. He was my teacher and instructor. In 1957, in our old green house in Laie, he laid the blueprint of my life as a Samoan fire knife dancer, when he first put a knife in my hand and gave me a blessing. He said, I give you this knife and a blessing that if you practice, endure, respect, and rely on the Lord, you will see the world and the world will know you and you will be a trendsetter amongst your people and many will follow. (Ia avea oe ma meafaigaluega ia faalauiloa atu lenei talegi i le lalolagi ae ia e manatua ia muamua le Atua.) He was my soul mentor and my idol. I will forever be thankful and indebted to my dad and for the legacy he handed down to me and my brothers and now our children and soon their children, fa’afetai tele lo’u tama pele.

In Loving Memory of My Mother, Sitaimata Evelina Tufaga Galea’i (July 2, 1913–August 1991)

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My mother had gotten to be the greatest treasure of my life. From the day I started to realize real life, she held my hand and cared for me as if I were her only child. She brought me to this world, clothed me, fed me, nursed me, and taught me to walk in the light of Christ and for me to realize the true meaning of this existence. She was gifted with numerous God-given talents—a singer, a dancer, a composer, the greatest cook, a writer, and a superior teacher of all cultural talents she acquired in her life span with a never-ending smile. I had absorbed and inherited all she was capable of. I’m forever indebted to my loving mother and am preparing myself to give a full report of all she endowed on me when we meet again.

In Loving Memory Of my wife Susan Maliana Maleko Galea’i

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This book is also dedicated to my wife, who passed away on July 3, 2007, who played a very important role and was instrumental in getting this book started.

In 1994, she said to me one night as we were coming home from the fire knife championship at PCC, Hon, you should write a book of all the things you are doing, especially the knife dance, so the world will know of your work, especially the competition, and it will be something for your children to read someday. She was always by my side as I would write my inspirational thoughts. At late nights, I would wake her and ask her to write as I dictated the deep thoughts of my mind. She would encourage me to write my ideas and dreams and to analyze my visions the best I could. In the various fire knife competitions I was involved in, she would ask, How did it go? or say, You did a wonderful job, but then sometimes, she would softly correct me of things to say and what was not good to say. She was my best critic and truly my inspiration and strength in getting most of these writings completed. Many times I would say, I give up, I can’t write, or I don’t write well, and she would say to me, Go to the Lord in prayer and fasting with an earnest heart, and in His own way, he will help you. Just ask in faith, and he will do the rest. I did—I prayed and fasted and pondered in my heart.

Now that my wife is gone from my side and never to return in this life, all I have are memories of her smiles, and at times, as I continue to work on this book, I can hear her whisper to my ears, Good going, hon, you’re almost there, or Rest, tomorrow is another day. My eternal companion has gone to the other side of the veil, but I know I will see her and be with her again in the next life hereafter, for we have been sealed for time and for all eternity in the holy house of God. Now that she’s gone, this book will also end.

In Memory of Paramount Chief Letuli Olo,

Father of the Fire Knife Dance

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Sometimes it is hard to even think, let alone write, about someone you are especially fond of. This book was written during my association with Paramount Chief Letuli Olo Misilagi and continued even after he had passed on from this life. However, his spirit lives on, and he will always be remembered for the tremendous contribution he has made to the flaming sword.

Meeting Donna:

The following year, at the second fire knife competition, I met a little blond woman named Donna Manz, who came to interview me for an article she was working on. I found out she was a journalist by profession and a freelance writer and traveled around the world to write. She was also a loving mother, and she knew about the Pacific people and their cultures. She often wrote for Aloha Joe’s world-broadcasting radio program and other magazines. After a few times we met talking about the fire event, I knew through inspiration she was the answer to the desire of my heart. I went back to the Lord and asked if she was the one, and the Lord confirmed to me yes. I told her that I was writing a book on my work and keeping a record of the knife dance and that I would like for her to look at it and see what she thought. She was very happy and said, Anytime, I would be very happy. We met several times at my house and in my office to look at the manuscript, and she thought it was excellent. We made an agreement, and we were partners. Through our association, she met my brother High Chief Lilomaiava because of her interest in the deeper part of the Samoan culture, and before long, she was anointed to become a talking chief Lefagoga in the council of chiefs, or the Falelua chief council of Laie, Hauula, and Kahuku.

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Pulefano and son Alexander Lefolasa Galea’i

2004 World Fire Knife Championship

Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie

Alexander Lefolasa Galea’i won the 2004 World Fire Knife Championship.

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David Vincent Tafili Galea’i with his adoptive mother

Vaimagalo Vai Galea’i Fa’amaligi

David, a three-time world fire knife champion

Dedication

To my wife, Susan Maliana Maleko Galea’i (passed away on July 3, 2007); to my father, Tuia Feagaima’ali’i Galea’i, and my mother, Sitaimata Evelina Tufaga Galea’i; to my children, Chris and Vicky Saunoa Galea’i, Tamaali’i and Susan Halvorsen Galea’i, Maliana Chande Taliilagi Galea’i and Jason Ava, Tagimalie Celesti Galea’i, Peninatautele Trinay