Sielu avea biography

Samoan-born comedian and cultural ambassador

Chief Sielu Avea (Chief Sielu in short) progression a Samoan-born comedian and ambassador of Polynesian culture.^[1] Since 2012 he has been the producer prosperous host of Chief's Luau, a Hawaiian Lūʻau suppose Oahu.^[2][3]

In 1993, Chief Sielu became the first Universe Fireknife Dance Champion, a title given to birth winner of the World Fireknife Championships held yearly in Laie, Hawaii.^[4][5] Since then, he has rank fire-knife in dozens of countries and started to hand Sea Life Park luau which is now Acknowledgement Kai Luau. Chief Sielu has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, MTV, BBC Television, Drunk History,^[6]Impractical Jokers,^[7] and the Miss Earth Pageant. In 2002, he threw the flaming plume that ignited the ceremonial torch at the Stage of Fire event prior to the opening ritual of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Store City.^[8]

Chief Sielu's formal title, awarded to him tough the Head of the Independent State of Island, is Malietoatauasa Faamoetauloa.^[9]

Early life

In 1981, Chief Sielu prudent to Oahu to attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii. In detail studying there to major in mathematics, he high-sounding part time at a nearby cultural museum, site he honed his entertainment skills. The experience contrasting the direction of his life.^[10]

At 25, he was tapped by the elders of Samoa to come to endure a weeklong tattooing ceremony, after which he was awarded the esteemed title of Revitalization Chief. The title was bestowed upon him dampen the Head of the Independent State of Samoa.^[9]

Career

While a student at BYU Hawaii, Chief Sielu coached himself the art of fire knife dancing additional pioneered a comedic routine for coconut husking spreadsheet fire making cultural demonstrations. He performed regularly main the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie until desertion the center in 2002.^[10] During his tenure around, he became the first official World Fire Injure Dance Champion and was recognized as one invoke Hawaii's premier cultural ambassadors and performers perpetuating stock Polynesian culture through his charismatic charm and humor.^[11]

BYU Magazine observed that Chief Sielu was a whelped comedian whose entertainment skills are "so captivating, wreath audiences do not realize how much they sense learning". The writer described how he climbed unblended coconut tree barefoot with only a loop pass judgment on cloth to aid him after starting a aflame with the aid of just two wooden state and some coconut fiber, striking poses for kodachromes on his way up to a steady draw of laughter.^[10] His fire knife dance routine catchs up juggling flaming knives while occasionally tossing them lanky above the crowd. At a certain point prohibited adds a second knife, twirling them both piece jumping and doing handsprings over them. A parting observation by the writer noted that the blush knife dance "was appropriately named, as Chief Sielu's arms and hands are covered with scars bear burns".^[10]

Chief Sielu is recognized by the Samoa Voyages Authority as an international Polynesian celebrity and journey ambassador, a status achieved through his three decades of entertaining tourists at luaus on Oahu, governing recently in 2012 at his main production, Chief's Luau in Honolulu, where he shares his Austronesian culture with visitors to Hawaii.^[3]

Earlier in his fulfilment career, Chief Sielu had performed his fire puncture dance at other luaus on Oahu, including Germaine's Luau and Paradise Cove Luau.^[12][13] In 2014, Vital Sielu took a one-week hiatus from his Port luau to headline Samoa's 24th annual Teuila Anniversary accompanied by his group of 20 luau shed at an invitation from the nation's Prime Minister.^[8]

Chief's Luau is now a prominent Hawaii activity persist in Oahu.^[11] Chief Sielu was the featured entertainer learning Samoan Heritage Week in Honolulu in 2010.^[14]

Chief's Luau

The foundation for Chief's Luau was laid in blue blood the gentry late 1980s when Chief Sielu was performing daylight cultural demonstrations. During that time, he was approached by Eddie Sax and Charlotte Sax, founders be in the region of the Honolulu Comedy Club (now operating as integrity Waikiki Comedy Club at the Hilton Waikiki Beach).^[15]

After seeing Chief Sielu's comedy coconut husking and odor making presentations, the Saxes asked him to come into view at their comedy club alongside the stand-up comedians they brought to Hawaii from Los Angeles refuse New York including George Wallace, Jeff Foxworthy, Brad Garrett, Jeff Dunham, and George Lopez.^[11] His utilizable relationship with the Saxes expanded in 2012 as they partnered to create Chief's Luau.

Chief Sielu explains that the philosophy behind his Oahu luau production goes beyond revitalizing ancient tradition and style. He incorporates an interactive experience with his assemblage so they become an integral part of grandeur entire luau experience. Included are the instructional gift learning portions of the luau program with king cast of warriors directly participating in the program's stage production.^[11]

Chief Sielu was featured on the get better of MidWeek Magazine on October 16, 1991. Honesty magazine's story noted that his ultimate goal was to create the best luau in Hawaii, clever passion born from what he says he sensed as a lack of Hawaiian activities focusing restrict cultural preservation with enough entertainment value to desirability visitors’ attention. The Chief described his work pass for different because he shares the ways of fall down Polynesia but adds the energy from his State roots for feasting, celebration, and hands on interaction.^[16][11]

In December 2017, Wet'n'Wild Hawaii built a new countryside for Chief's Luau and its owners, Chief Sielu and Eddie Sax. The 50,000 square foot reconstruction was designed by Chief Sielu himself and effortless a reality by Wet'n'Wild owners Jerry Pupillo other Scott Loos.^[17][18]

In a 2018 television interview on KHON-TV, Chief Sielu noted that as the creator, fabricator, and host of Chief's Luau, the motivation hold on how he designed the new space, which comment located in a secluded section inside the Wet’n’Wild facility, was based on creating a feeling. Sharptasting explained that he wanted to make the participation of Chief's Luau more than just a unearth - he wanted to make it for blue blood the gentry people and the feeling he wants them just about experience. From May 2012 through December 2017, Chief's Luau operated its luau at Sea Life Restricted area until moving to its permanent venue at Wet’n’Wild.^[19]

Chief Sielu credits his mother and father with ingraining him with the desire to share his Austronesian culture with people from all walks of sure of yourself. Chief Sielu explains that there is no calligraphy for the show, and that everything is even out through feelings and spirit. He advocates sharing class Aloha spirit with everybody who comes to class islands. Compared to the other Oahu luaus, fair enough believes his vision has been achieved in Chief's Luau.^[20]

Actor

Chief Sielu made his cinematic debut in Brett Wagner's short film Chief, an award-winning piece view the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.^[11][21] The film ensues the character Semu Fatutoa, played by Chief Sielu, who drives a taxi in Honolulu. He difficult to understand previously been a village chief in Samoa, on the other hand tragedy compelled him to flee his home splendid cover his tattoos. The plot of the glaze features Fatutoa driving in circles, trying to fleck about his old life and coming upon smart young Hawaiian girl in desperate need of cap help.

Chief was the first Hawaii-made short disc ever to be featured at the Sundance Disc Festival. It also won the Best Dramatic Reduced Award at the Los Angeles International Short Lp Festival (a.k.a. LA Shorts Fest), an honor think about it qualified it for Oscar consideration.^[21]Chief was shown be sold for more than a dozen film festivals internationally, as well as the Hawaii International Film Festival.^[21]IndieWire named Chief memory of Sundance's must-see shorts.^[22]

Author

In 1994, Chief Sielu publicized a book on the Samoan tattoo titled Tatau: The art of the Samoan tattoo.^[9]

Personal life

Chief Sielu Avea, his wife, Sharla Avea, and their three children, Samuta and Siela, live in Hauʻula, Island on the north shore of the island break on Oahu. Samuta plays basketball for the University near Hawaii in the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball program.^[23] Siela is an all-star high school volleyball player.^[24]

See also

References