Pouring rain in Brisbane couldn't dampen the blaze or the passion at Toa Ole Afi-Pati Levasa, the Samoan fire knife dancing competition billed as Australia's first.

Held at the Kingston Butter Factory in Logan, home to a large Samoan diaspora, Siva Afi alumni and competitors flew in from around the globe.

But for many, the ancient war dance represents much more than a competition.

"When I go and perform, it's showing people who I am and where I come from. We are Polynesian, we are Samoan," Upega Sooalo told ABC Pacific.

"It's a war dance, it belongs to the warrior.

"That's why when you see the Siva Afi, all the different moves, it's like the warrior fighting in battle."

Arriving from Hawai'i, Chief Seilu Avea — one of the judges at the inaugural event — said there's a deep commitment required to master Siva Afi.

"It's not an easy event to put together, but it's the beginning of something big," he said.

"It's a family thing when all the competitors come here, the only difference is their performance, but after their performance and they come backstage, we're all friends and family."

Performers travelled from all over the world, too.

Like Malakai Lavatai flew in from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and won first place in the men's open division on Saturday night.

Originally from American Samoa, Lavatai first started learning Siva Afi at 13 years old along with his two brothers after visiting a fiafia night.

"Siva Afi has done a lot for my family," he said.

"We started out doing fire knife and competitions. And now I own a Luau in South Carolina and Florida. [Siva Afi] is how I move forward in life. It's my career now, it's pretty much everything."

'Channelling that inner warrior'

Sophia Uele runs Tautua Siva Afi, a Wellington-based performing arts school aiming to help Samoan youth living in Aotearoa New Zealand to connect with their culture,

Her team bought five Siva Afi students to compete.

"It's not so much about the competition and competing against other people, it's bettering yourself as a warrior," she told ABC Pacific.

"Siva Afi to us is about channelling that inner warrior that all of us have."

It's also a way of instilling life lessons, she added.

"We always tell our kids, it's about mentality … it's all in your mind," she said.

"It's a great way for our kids to upskill, overcome battles, whether it's burns, cuts, all of that kind of stuff... it teaches them resilience."

The rain couldn’t stop the fire at Australia's first international Siva Afi competition. (Pic: Supplied)

Resilience is something 13-year-old Emillie Iliganoa Tafailagi Elizabeth Pritchard knows after four years of practising.

Representing Aotearoa New Zealand, the Auckland native won first place in the junior girls' division on the weekend.

"When you're spinning ... you don't really feel the flame if it actually burns you; you can feel it but you've gotta keep going," she told Nesia Daily.

'I'm embracing my culture'

For many young people of the diaspora, like Portia Meredith-Numia, of Samoan and Fijian heritage, it's also a meaningful way to connect to cultural heritage.

"I didn't really grow up around all of that stuff, so when I joined the workshops, it really opened those cultural doors for me.

"I love being on the stage; I love the adrenaline that I get from it.

"I feel a connection to my ancestors. It connects me to my roots. I like that I'm making my family proud too, it makes them proud because I'm embracing my culture."

Woman in yellow costume, headpiece holds Samoan ceremonial knife, looks to camera. People sit in room behind her.

Along with Emillie Pritchard coming first place for the junior girls' division, and Malakai Lavatai for the open men, Silhouette Lemana Sagaiga took first place in the open womens' finals and Kitiona Lua took the title in the junior boys division.

While it was the first international event held in Australia, Chief Seilu Avea said it would not be the last.

"We're going to get this going as an annual event [in] Australia and give a chance to many generations to learn about the art of fire knife dancing, not only Samoans but people around the world."

This article was first published on ABC Pacific Beat.