About Chief Sielu...
Chief Sielu Avea, whose formal title—awarded to him by the Head of State of Independent Samoa—is Malietoa Tauasa Folo Sielu Avea, has been an entertainer and ambassador of Samoan culture for more than 20 years. He is a world-champion fire-knife dancer and has performed in dozens of countries. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show, The Tonight Show, MTV, and BBC Television. In 2002, he threw the flaming spear that ignited the ceremonial torch at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In 2008, he starred in a short film called Chief, which turned out to be one of 20 short films selected to be showcased at the acclaimed Sundance Film Festival 2008. Chief Sielu has spent his life introducing the world to the fa’asamoa, the Samoan way, through comedy, music, dance, and his extraordinary abilities as a communicator.
An Invitation from Chief Sielu
"All the years I was working at the Polynesian Cultural Center I was looking for a place here on Oahu to remind me of home, of the jungles of Samoa where I grew up — a place where I could share our true way of life — living off the land and enjoying nature. I finally found the place—a place where we can appreciate exotic flowers, fruit trees, nut trees, medicine trees and fish, to demonstrate ways of survival on the island, where we can sing and take a magical boat ride together across an ancient fish pond, past Secret Island where you will see how the Hawaiians of all generations have protected, replenished and harvested fish. This place, like no other, demonstrates the special relationship that the Islanders have with their land, how it is where I am from. E komo mai, let us show you the time of your life with Music, Fire, Song and Dance. Only a 40 min drive from Waikiki, yet a world away.
—Chief Sielu Avea