Tyson Mills and Chaira Sailiata do a pukana pose at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona.Photo by Rachel Mills
Co-Owner Jeurell Lavatai holds up Chistian Tolentino as part of a fireknife dance performance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Abe Mills
Christian Tolentino performs a fireknife dance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Phot by Abe Mills
Co-Owner/performer Jeurell Lavatai and drummers Jackson Mills and Pamata Sio get ready to provides the beats of island music at Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills
Chaira Sailiata and Simi Hansen-Paiali'i involve audience members in the luau show at Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills
Michelle Amadio, Mya Sanford, and Jasminne Lohn perform a traditional Tahitian dance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills
Mya Sanford, Jasminne Lohn, and Michelle Amadio perform a traditional Hawaiian dance an the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills
Christian Tolentino gets gets ready to do a fireknife dance while Jackson Mills, Pamata Sio, and Chief Tasi look on. Photo by Rachel Mills
Christian Tolentino, Chaira Sailiata, and Tyson Mills perform a traditional Tongan dance at the Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona. Photo by Rachel Mills
Jackson and Tyson Mills stand with their mother, Rachel. Photo by Abe Mills
Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona has added two local brothers to their world class team and is sharing the tastes, sights, sounds, traditions, and cultures of Polynesia with tourists and locals in Daytona beach.
Every visit to Polynesian Fire Daytona’s luau experience starts with an “aloha” greeting and a lei around the neck; then, features a buffet dinner and dances and music from Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Fiji, including the popular fireknife dance and the Haka.
“You could say that [the performances] are world class,” said Jeurell Lavatai, co-owner and performer at Polynesian Fire Daytona. “We sweat and bleed for the show, for the luau.”
Lavatai is an award winning fireknife dancer. The fireknife portion is the climax of the show.
“I just hope people realize how much effort and work we put into this,” dancer Chaira Sailiata said. “Definitely fireknife and haka are two of the highlights of the show.”
While most of the luau performers are from the Pacific Islands, Micronesia and Melanesia, there are two that are from right here in Volusia County.
Brothers Jackson and Tyson Mills, who are my sons, received their training and experience while living in the Pacific Islands.
Jackson Mills worked and trained as a dancer and drummer at the world renowned Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii, while attending college.
Tyson Mills was a missionary in Fiji, where he learned the culture and language. He later joined his brother, Jackson, at the Polynesian Cultural Center where he learned and performed cultural dances at the Fijian village exhibit while attending school.
We’re always very lucky to find local talent because that doesn’t happen very often, said Jason Wright, Polynesian Fire Daytona co-owner. “Usually we have to bring our people in from Hawaii or even further.”
“We’re lucky to have these guys,” Lavatai said. “I’m pretty sure they’re excited to be with us too. We have Tysons’ energy and Jackson’s drumming. They had no problem fitting in.”
Though the performers are from different parts of the world, the spirit of family is what seemed to be the common theme among performers as well as show attendees.
“The best part of our show is sharing the experience of ‘aloha’ and the spirit of ‘ohana’”, said Simi Hansen-Paiali’i the master of ceremonies and a performer at Polynesian Fire Luau.
The “spirit of aloha” has been described as love, compassion, peace, and mercy and “ohana” means family.
“We want everyone that comes in to feel like family,” Tyson Mills said.
The show includes audience participation for audience members of all ages.
“We love when locals come because they get to not only experience [the spirit of] aloha of Hawaii, but sharing it here in Daytona is a blessing,” Hansen-Paiali’i said. “So hopefully we bring the spirit of Polynesia and everybody’s able to perpetuate it throughout Daytona and Florida.”
Polynesian Fire Luau Daytona is located at 180 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. Luau experiences start at 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, visit www.polynesianfire.com.
