A Hawaiian fireknife performer of Tongan descent, Hale Motuapuaka, was declared the winner of the 2018 World Fireknife Championships on 12 May Saturday at the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii. The 18-year-old received a prize of $7,500 (USD).

Hale Motuapuaka competed against the world’s best fireknife performers from Japan, Tahiti, Samoa and California. In the finals of the competition, he beat Japanese champion Matsushima Yuya (2nd place) and Tahitian champion Joseph Cadousteau (3rd place).

The performance of each competitor was determined by a panel of six judges. According to the tournament rules, the judges evaluate “…overall speed, height of each throw, degree of difficulty, choreography and warrior-like presence”.