The moment she felt the heat of the fire, Jeralee Galeai discovered her destiny.

Galeai, 15, of Laie, put on an impressive show at the World Fireknife Championships at the Polynesian Cultural Center in May, taking second place for the second year in a row in the intermediate division for competitors ages 12 to 17.

The rising star — one among 10 competitors in her division to perform before a sold-out crowd at the center — was the only female to place at the championships this year.

The Kahuku High School student is not only looking forward to competing again, but is setting her sights on the top title.

“It makes me want to work harder for next year,” said Galeai.

Fireknife dancing has its roots in the Samoan “ailao,” a warrior’s knife dance traditionally performed before battle with the “nifo oti,” or “tooth of death.” While the art of fireknife dance is dominated by males, a few females have competed, and placed, at the championship over the years.

Female competitors are currently allowed in the junior (ages 6-11) and intermediate (ages 12-17) divisions, but the senior division (ages 18 and older) is only open to male competitors.

Galeai, whose father is from Samoa and mother is from the Cook Islands, comes from a long line of fireknife dancers and grew up surrounded by it.

Her grandfather Tafili Galeai was a fireknife dancer, and her father, David Galeai, who taught her the art, is a three-time world fireknife champion. David Galeai says his sister, Vatau Galeai, was one of the first women to dance with fire. Jeralee’s great-uncle, Pulefano Galeai, was the originator of the World Fireknife Championships, now in its 24th year, at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

She has two female cousins, twins Aaliyah and Chandae Ava, 14, who also have competed and placed at the championships.

As the eldest of three children, she grew up watching her father perform at the Polynesian Cultural Center since she was about 5 years old.

“I would be so proud and happy,” she said. “I always clapped loud.”

After watching her dad teach her older, male cousins the art of fireknife dancing, she asked him if she could give it a try at the age of 10. Beginners use a practice stick.

“It looked cool so I wanted to try it,” she said.

It was much harder than it looked, and she was initially discouraged, but kept on trying.

She would practice in the front yard, along with her cousins. When tour buses passed by the home, they would give an impromptu performance.

Once she was ready, she went from the practice stick to the real nifo oti, which is much heavier, weighing up to 3 pounds each. When Jeralee had mastered three moves, her dad let her practice with fire, and that’s when it all clicked for her.

There was something magical about the fire, she said.

“The first time I spun it, I liked the noise of it,” she said. “It’s like a wavy-ish noise. … That’s a lot more exciting.”

Mom Grace Galeai said the fire makes her nervous, but Jeralee seemed to take to it naturally.

In preparation for this year’s competition, her fourth, she practiced at least an hour a day. She would run through her choreography about three to four times — and yes, she said, she sustained small burns and nicks while practicing. She has several on each arm.

In time she went from a single sword to two and is now up to three burning knives that she can spin and throw in the air. She’s a fierce competitor, but also enjoys the interaction with the audience, seeing the looks of surprise on their faces.

“I really appreciate the crowd and everyone cheering,” she said. “I could look in the audience and see some of my family members.”

Today she continues to perform about three times a week at the center’s luau and plans to participate in a competition just for girls in Anaheim, Calif., this fall. She also spends times studying the top three finalists from the competition to get ideas.

Her inspiration was, and still is, her dad.

“I’m pretty proud,” said David Galeai of his daughter. “She’s unique in what she does. … So we’ll continue until she feels like doing other things.”

Jeralee said she would like to see more girls compete at the World Fireknife Competition and encourages them to take up the sport.

“Don’t hold back,” she said. “Just do your best. Any girl can do it. It’s just you have to put in the time and the work. You’ll get it as long as you put in 100 percent.”