Polynesian fire knife (siva afi) and fire-staff performance from a four-person troupe rooted in Sāmoan and Hawaiian tradition.
Pele Fire Arts is led by Vai Mātaitusi, a Sāmoan-Hawaiian fire knife dancer who has been performing siva afi since age 12. Vai trained under his father and grandfather, both former Polynesian Cultural Center performers. He founded Pele Fire Arts in 2018 to bring trained, lineage-rooted fire performance to events on Hawaiʻi Island.
Our troupe is four performers. We perform siva afi (Sāmoan fire knife), Tahitian fire-staff, and choreographed fire-flow numbers. We do not do tourist-bar 'fire shows' — every performance is built around traditional movement, not just spinning fire.
Safety is non-negotiable. We carry our own fire blankets and extinguishers, work with the venue's fire marshal where required, and have never had an incident in 250+ performances. We need a 12x12 minimum performance area, sand or grass surface preferred, and overhead clearance of 15 feet.
We're typically booked as the closing act of a lūʻau or as a 10-15 minute showpiece during weddings. Our performances are choreographed to live drumming or recorded music — we'll work with you on song selection.
Resort F&B director · Kohala Coast
We've worked with Pele Fire Arts as the closing act of our weekly lūʻau for over a year. Vai's choreography is a clear step above the standard tourist-bar fire show. Our guests consistently single out the fire knife performance in their reviews.
Ashley & Tom B. · Kona / Denver
We booked the duo performance as a surprise for our reception. Twelve minutes, perfectly timed to a slow build of drumming, ended with a flourish that had the whole tent on its feet. Vai walked us through the safety setup beforehand which set our minds at ease.
Corporate retreat organizer · Mauna Kea Beach
Booked the full troupe for the closing of our welcome lūʻau. Vai narrated the cultural context briefly before the performance — guests really appreciated that. The full troupe show is genuinely impressive. Worth the budget.
These are starting packages. Most vendors will customize for your date, headcount, and the kind of party you're throwing — ask.
8 minutes
Single performer, traditional siva afi solo. Most-booked for wedding receptions and corporate dinners.
12 minutes
Two performers, choreographed siva afi and fire-staff. Live drumming optional.
20 minutes
Four performers, narrated cultural program, live drumming, traditional and contemporary numbers.
Booked dates are pulled from the vendor's own calendar. If your date is open, you can request a quote — they'll confirm in their reply. Most events lock in 2–6 months ahead in Hawaiʻi; for May–August dates, sooner is safer.
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