DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGTUESDAY, JULY 14, 2020 AT 2:00 PM
VIA VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM: VIDEO / AUDIO CONFERENCE
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Snowbird Bento
Māpuana de Silva
Mehana Hind-Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā-

Misty KelaʻiJamie Lum-Monte McComber
Richard Onishi-Senate President’s Designee
Community Member At-Large
Community Member At-Large (arrived at 2:03pm)
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Designee(arrived at 2:04pm)
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee(arrived at 2:07pm)
City and County of Honolulu Designee
Department of Business, Economic Developmentand Tourism (DBEDT)
Governor’s Designee
House Speakerʻs Designee

Jacob Aki
Amber Jacroux Bixel
Jackie Burke
Maka Casson-Fisher
Donald Christian-Reynold
Donalyn Dela Cruz
T. Ilihia Gionson
Velsoni Hereniko
Melanie Ide
Blaine Kia
Tory Laitila
Honey Maltin-Wisot
Ngahiraka Mason
June Matsumoto
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi
Gloriana Teuira
Ricardo Trimillos
Margo Vitareli-Senator English’s Office
Bishop Museum
Kahookele Art
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority-Strategies 360
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association-Bishop Museum
Outrigger Resorts
Honolulu Museum of Art
Strategies 360
Representative for New Zealand Delegation
Pacific Island Institute (PII)
Mayor’s Office of the Culture and Arts (MOCA)----Guests:

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 2 of 6

Staff:Margaret Ahn
Marlene Hiraoka
Selma Malcolm
Timothy Tiu-Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT

CALL TO ORDER
Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at
2:01 p.m., who welcomed everyone present via Zoom and Facebook.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair English invited members of the public to testify. Hearing none, he continued with agenda
items.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 29, 2020 MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting held on June 29, 2020, were approved, unamended on a motion by Rep.
Onishi and seconded by Mr. McComber.
A roll call vote was requested with the following Commissioners approving the motion: Chair
English, Rep. Onishi, Mr. McComber, Ms. Kelaʻi, Ms. Bento, and Ms. Lum.
The motion was unanimously approved.
REPORTS
A. DBEDT Report:Ms. Lum reported that DBEDT has been in discussions with PAʻI Foundation to closeout their contract. The contract was scheduled to close out in March, however, theshutdown delayed final completion of the contract. PAʻI was contacted later in June andinstructions were given to complete and close out all pending contract requirements.
Recently, Ms. Takamine sent an email to DBEDT explaining that since the contract was
not closed out, there were ongoing monthly QuickBooks charges that totaled $783.75.
Commissioners questioned whether the QuickBooks charges were used for other Pai
projects in addition to FestPAC.
Ms. Takamine had also indicated in her email that they would like to use $12,000 fromthe contract to conduct an audit. Initially, $32,000 was budgeted for this audit.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 3 of 6

It was previously reported that the amount from PAʻI to pay for venue expenses was$738,677.04, however, with these requested adjustments related to QuickBooks and theaudit, if approved by the Commission, the new total would be $725,893.25.
Chair English suggested that these decisions be made in two parts: (1) $783.75 for
QuickBooks charges; and (2) approval of the audit. PAʻI had recommended Jay Miyake,
LLC to conduct the audit. Members were asked for comments.
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā questioned about the scope of the audit and whether it was a financialaudit. Ms. Lum indicated that she will seek clarification on this matter. Mr. McComber
asked about the Commission’s internal deadline for the audit to be completed.
Ms. de Silva suggested that the Commission conduct the audit but asked for clarification
as to whether PAʻI should conduct an audit separately or whether the Commission should
conduct the overall audit and whether that would be acceptable.
Rep. Onishi suggested that the contract be closed out and all requirements completed. He
commented that it would be proper to terminate the contract as soon as possible. He also
asked the Commission members what they thought should be the scope of the audit.
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā suggested that the audit include agreed upon procedures, validation ofexpenses, and a cash test. DBEDT can determine if all the deliverables of the contract
were submitted.
Ms. Ahn asked whether the audit was included in the PAʻI contract scope of services.
The audit was confirmed to have been included as a budget item by PAʻI. Ms. Ahn
raised the question whether the contractor should be selecting the auditor. Commission
members expressed the need for the Commission to select an auditor. Ms. Lum statedthat there are no funds available to conduct an audit from DBEDT’s budget.
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā questioned where the funding for this audit would come from. Ms. Lum
presented that question as well. There needs to be guidance on how to utilize PAʻI ’s
funds for this purpose. Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā stated that it is the Commission’s audit and thatthe Commission would select the auditor. He suggested that the Commission develop thescope of services and that selection should be via a request for proposal or some type ofbid process. He said that the Commission needs to be given the opportunity tounderstand the scope of the audit.
Ms. de Silva asked whether the contract can be closed prior to completing the audit so themonthly QuickBooks subscription charge does not continue to accumulate. Ms. Lum
stated that DBEDT is processing final payment to PAʻI in order to close the contract.
Rep. Onishi questioned how the PAʻI contract can be closed when funds from theContract would need to pay for the audit. He also asked how would PAʻI be able to closeout the contract and make venue payments.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 4 of 6

Chair English commented that regarding the QuickBooks subscription, if PAʻI used it forother projects, it should be pro-rated on a monthly basis. He requested for verificationthat the subscription has been cancelled.
Ms. Lum will provide additional information and report findings at the next Commission
meeting.
Ms. de Silva asked if the Commission should vote to: (1) close the PAʻI contract; and (2)determine that the selection of the auditor be made by the Commission. Ms. Ahn
commented that the Commission may determine whether there needs to be a vote onthese items.
Chair English asked Ms. de Silva if her suggestions could be postponed until the next
meeting, and she agreed.
B. Commissioners Report:
Mr. McComber mentioned that since the last Commission meeting, he has received
favorable comments from the Commission about ʻUluʻulu: The Henry Kuʻualoha Giugni
Moving Image Archive of Hawaiʻi (ʻUluʻulu). He reported that the ʻUluʻulu archive is
now located at the University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu (UHWO) in the media department.
As the Commission has discussed documenting the 13th FestPAC, he believes there is agreat opportunity to partner with the UHWO to make the Festival footage part of theʻUluʻulu archive. Mr. McComber said that he has asked the ʻUluʻulu archive to make apresentation to the Commission at a future meeting.
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā reported that the official press release announcing the new Festival dates
in 2024 was issued on July 1, 2020 in three languages (English, French and Hawaiian).
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā also reported that he met with PAʻI Foundation/Ms. Takamine andpicked up all the remaining 2020 FestPAC promotional merchandise. He will beconducting an inventory of those items. He further stated that one outstanding issue withPAʻI is that he has been trying to gain access to another Facebook page that PAʻI set up
for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, separate from the official FestPAC
Facebook page. Unfortunately, there was a post in May that was inappropriate andpolitical. Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā has made efforts to secure the administrator rights to that
account since February, 2020, and his most recent request was last month. To date he hasreceived no response from PAʻI. Chair English requested Ms. Ahn to draft a demandletter. Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā will be sending pertinent information to Ms. Ahn.
Chair English asked if the Pacific Community (SPC) announced the new Festival dates
through any of their social media channels. Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā responded that the SPC
issued the press release announcing the new dates but did not post it on their social

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 5 of 6media. Chair English expressed his disappointment and asked Ms. de Silva to please
convey that to the SPC. Ms. de Silva said she will discuss this matter with Ms.
Kuiniselani Tago-Elisara and Ms. Luisa Mavoa from the SPC. She said there is a
Working Group meeting scheduled on Thursday.
Mr. Kaʻanāʻanā reported that he has been in contact with staff of SPC’s webmaster. Hesaid the SPC website is not updated, and he will request that SPC update it.
Chair English reported that he was interviewed on Hawaii Public Radio. He also thankedMr. Kaʻanāʻanā and Ms. Dela Cruz for coordinating the communication plan and sending
it out in a timely manner on July 1.
Ms. de Silva also thanked the team who worked on the press release. She appreciatedworking with the team for the initial communication release. There are certain areas that
require coordination, and she thanked Ms. Dela Cruz, Ms. Malton-Wison and Mr.
GionsonNEXT MEETINGThe next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
Chair English requested that time be allotted to discuss the FestPAC theme, logo development
and the pending audit.

CLOSING REMARKS
Chair English explained that the Office of Information Practices (OIP) has opined that public
testimony should be taken before the Commission discusses or takes action on any agenda items.
Therefore, public testimony has been moved to the beginning of the meeting agenda to be incompliance with OIP’s opinion.
Ms. Ahn clarified that this does not preclude the Commission from hearing from the public again
later in the meeting.
Ms. Hine shared that during the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board meetings, the generalpublic has two opportunities to testify. The Board hears public testimony at the beginning oftheir meeting before decision making on agenda items. Toward the end of the meeting, theBoard opens up for community concerns; however, no action can be taken on any issues raised
during this portion of the meeting.
Chair English recognized comments in the Zoom chat from Margo Vitareli who asked when theCommission will be 1) connecting with local Pacific organizations; and 2) forming planningcommittees for different tasks, e.g., housing, meals, greeting, fundraising, opening, closing, etc.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & CultureTuesday, July 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 6 of 6

Chair English thanked Ms. Vitareli for her comments and said the Commission will start
addressing these things once the new theme is selected.
Chair English asked if there were additional public comments. Hearing none, the meeting wasadjourned.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,

July 24, 2020

Senator J. Kalani English
ChairDate

July 23, 2020
TO:
FR:
RE:

Dennis Ling, DBEDTKalani Kaʻanāʻanā, CommissionerS360
FestPAC Hawaiʻi Website & Social MediaThis memo provides a brief overview of work performed from July 10-July 23, 2020. It details theproject deliverables and next steps.

OVERVIEW
S360 has continuously maintained and updated the FestPAC website and social media pages as Hawaiʻimoves ahead with planning for the 2024 festival. We continue to monitor media and website inquiries andpost on FestPAC’s social media platforms, as approved.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES••••Website: Continue to monitor email inquiries and submissions from website email.
Social media posts across all platforms as approved by designated FESTPAC Hawaiʻi.
Commissioner. Met with Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā and his team to establish content calendar
and subject matter.
Respond or redirect inquiries via social media, as directed.
Monitored social media and media for festival-related posts.

ONGOING COMMUNICATION••

Continuing communication with designated FESTPAC Hawaiʻi Commission supervisor.
Content strategy meeting with Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā. Awaiting approval to post
Commissioner Bento’s FestPAC story.

ADDITIONAL DELIVERABLES••

Worked with DBEDT regarding rogue festival Facebook account.
Reviewed and provided three different reports provided to the former Festival Director andCommission to alert them about the additional page and suggested it be eliminated.

• 851 FORT STREET MALL, SUITE 500 • HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96813 • (808) 524-1100

2|Page

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS••••

Festpachawaii.org has seen a 155% increase in users in the last seven days. The number ofsessions is up 105%.
In the last 28 days, the officials FestPAC Hawaiʻi Facebook page has reached nearly 13K people.
It has 55 new followers. Engagement and page views are up, as well.
Twitter: In the last 28 days, the number of tweets, impressions, and followers increased.
Instagram: FestPAC Hawaiʻi has 510 followers.

NEXT STEPS•••••

Continued content strategy planning with Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā.
Await approval on posting of feature with link to website.
Continue to monitor website and social media pages.
Continue scheduled posts on social media, as advised.
Continue to compile assets for FESTPAC Hawaiʻi promotion on social media.

• 851 FORT STREET MALL, SUITE 500 • HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96813 • (808) 524-1100