DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, JUNE 15, 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
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Misty Kelaʻi
Dennis Ling-Monte McComber-Senate President’s Designee
Community Member At-Large (arrived at 2:13pm)
Community Member At-Large
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
City and County of Honolulu Designee
Department of Business, Economic Development
and Tourism (DBEDT)
Governor’s Designee

Jacob Aki
Amber Jacroux Bixel
Jackie Burke
Maka Casson-Fisher
Eric Chang
Donalyn Dela Cruz
Jean-Emmanuel Frantz
T. Ilihia Gionson(NHHA)
Lynn Martin Graton
Mary Therese Hattori
Blaine Kia
Honey Maltin-Wisot
Ngahiraka Mason
June Matsumoto
Michi Moore
Benton Kealiʻi Pang
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi(MOCA)
Chasmon Tarimel
Margo Vitarelli-

Senator English’s Office
Bishop Museum
Kahookele Art
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
East-West Center
Strategies 360-Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association---Outrigger Resorts
Strategies 360
Representative for New Zealand Delegation
Pacific Island Institute (PII)
Senate Communications Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Mayor’s Office of the Culture and Arts----Margaret Ahn
Jamie Lum-

Attorney General
DBEDT

Guests:Staff:

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 2 of 5

Marlene Hiraoka
Selma Malcolm
Timothy Tiu-DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT-

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Designee
House Speaker’s Designee

Apologies:
Mehana HindRichard Onishi

CALL TO ORDER
Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Monday, June 15, 2020, at
2:08 p.m., who welcomed everyone present via Zoom and Facebook.
Chair English requested that Facebook Live begin once he calls the meeting to order and not
before the meeting convenes.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 1, 2020 MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting held on June 1, 2020, were approved unamended on a motion by Mr.
Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded by Mr. McComber.
A roll call vote was requested with the following Commissioners approving the motion: Chair
English, Mr. McComber, Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā, Ms. de Silva, Ms. Kelaʻi and Mr. Ling.
The motion was unanimously approved.
REPORTS
A. DBEDT Report:
Mr. Ling reported that $625 was encumbered for hosting of the FESTPAC website and$10,475 was encumbered for Strategies 360 (S360) to update, maintain and manage thewebsite until December 31, 2020. In addition, Mr. Ling stated that $574,615.73 is in theprocess of being encumbered as a downpayment to the Hawaiʻi Convention Center andwill be added to the downpayment of $70,500 that has already been made.
Mr. Ling further reported that the appropriation balance of $585,715.73 will be fully
encumbered before June 30, 2020. He reminded the Commissioners that $258,000 has
already been deposited with the University of Hawaiʻi for room reservations. There isalso a balance of $7,050 on the Pacific Islands Institute (PII) contract that will be paid
once a final report is received by June 30, 2020.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
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B. Marketing and Sponsorship Director’s Report:
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā reported that he stands on the written report that was included in themeeting packet.
NEW BUSINESSMs. de Silva reported that a letter was sent to the country ministers from the PacificCommunity (SPC) Director General, Dr. Stuart Minchin, informing them that at the 30th
Meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC) held virtually on May 20,
2020, the proposal to postpone the 13th Festival in Hawaiʻi to 2024 was adopted. Ms. deSilva said she received an official notification on June 12, 2020, about the new date. TheCommission is now able to begin planning for 2024. Chair English also confirmed that itwould be allowable to post this information on social media. Ms. de Silva concurred andthanked everyone for their support.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā stated that he would like to meet with S360 as soon as possible todevelop a communications strategy so that the Commission can take a comprehensive
approach going forward. Ms. de Silva also added that although this Commission meetingis a public meeting, she asked that the public hold off on making any announcements toallow the Commission to roll out its social media platforms first. She stressed that there
needs to be an order as to how information is disseminated, and she thanked the public
for their cooperation.
Ms. Bento asked whether it is appropriate to begin discussions on planning blended
activities prior to 2024. Ms. de Silva indicated that it would be best to consult with Ms.
Kuiniselani about how much can be shared at the moment. Ms. de Silva reiterated theimportance of Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā working with S360 to establish a communication strategy.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā said he thinks the next action the Commission needs to take is to setspecific dates for the 2024 Festival so that this information can be included in the formal
postponement announcement. He reported that Ms. Matsumoto of Pacific Islands
Institute has been working with the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) to find workable dates in2024. The dates they are looking at are June 6-16, 2024, which are workable for both UH
and the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Those dates fall on a Thursday to Sunday. Ms.
Matsumoto indicated that the dates can be shortened or lengthened depending upon thelength of the Festival. Ms. Matsumoto stated that she has blocked 10 days to allow theCommission the flexibility to adjust the dates. She indicated that calculations will bebased on 10 days.
Ms. de Silva asked whether the Hawaiʻi Convention Center is available for use during theJune 6-16, 2024 dates. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā reported that the Hawaiʻi Lodging and Tourism
Association (HLT) has the Convention Center booked for one day during that timeperiod; however, because the event is so far out, there is time to negotiate with them. Mr.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 4 of 5Ka‘anā‘anā has requested the Hawaiʻi Convention Center to hold June 4-18, 2024 to givetime for move in and move out.
Ms. Matsumoto indicated that UH is able to accommodate date changes as long as it isduring the month of June.
Chair English said he likes the June 6-16, 2024 dates. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā commented thatthe timeframe encompasses Kamehameha Day, something that was considered whenchoosing the original 2020 dates.
Ms. Bento pointed out that if the Festival is held from June 6-16, 2024 then we will haveto have rooms available a few days before and after the event to accommodate groups
that may have to come in early or leave late due to flight schedules. Ms. de Silva
concurred that additional room nights before and after the event would be needed. She
requested that Ms. Matsumoto obtain hard deadlines from UH as to when they need theroom counts. Ms. Matsumoto said she will ask UH for guidance as to when they willallow us to make adjustments. Ms. de Silva stated we now have more than enough timeto inform the delegations of the housing deadlines so that if they are not able to meetthose deadlines, they know they will have to make their own arrangements for any
accommodations needed before or after the Festival. Ms. de Silva also expressed her
support for the June 6-16, 2024 dates and thinks 10 days is a good length of time for theFestival. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā said he likes that the dates include two weekends.
It was moved by Ms. de Silva and seconded by Ms. Kelaʻi to designate June 6-16, 2024,
as the new Festival dates. There being no further discussion, a roll call vote wasrequested with the following commissioners agreeing to the motion: Chair English, Ms.
Kelaʻi, Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā, Ms. de Silva, Ms. Bento, Mr. McComber, and Mr. Ling.
The motion was unanimously approved.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Chair English invited members of the public to testify.
Ms. Bixel from the Bishop Museum stated on behalf of the Bishop Museum, that they arepleased to host events at the museum and will reserve the June 6-16, 2024 dates for the Festival.
Chair English expressed his thanks to Ms. Bixel for the Bishop Museum’s support.
CLOSING REMARKS
Chair English expressed his thanks to everyone for attending the meeting.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 15, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 5 of 5

NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:34 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,

June 26, 2020

Senator J. Kalani English
Chair

Date

June 25, 2020
TO:
FR:
RE:

Dennis Ling, DBEDTKalani Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner
S360
FESTPAC Hawaiʻi Website & Social MediaThis memo provides a brief overview of work performed from June 13-24, 2020. It details the projectdeliverables and next steps.

OVERVIEW
S360 has continuously maintained and updated the FESTPAC website and social media pages as Hawaiʻinavigates through this Covid-19 pandemic. We continue to monitor media and website inquiries and post
on FESTPAC’s social media platforms, as instructed.

PROJECT DELIVERABLES••••

Social media posts across all platforms as approved by designated FESTPAC HawaiʻiCommissionerWebsiteo Continue receiving and monitoring email inquiries and volunteer submissions
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
Created posts for official announcement of new FESTPAC Hawaiʻi dates, awaiting OK to post
based on approval of SPC
Social media calendar for June submitted, awaiting approval
Awaiting content strategy meeting with Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā

ADDITIONAL DELIVERABLES•Drafted news release at the request of Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā to announce new dates forFESTPAC Hawaiʻi

WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICSoooUse, engagement, reach down across all social media platforms due to reduced number of posts
as we await guidance and approval
Facebook and Instagram Followers remain steady
Slight increase in Twitter Followers• 851 FORT STREET MALL, SUITE 500 • HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96813 • (808) 524-1100

2|PageNEXT STEPS•••••Content strategy planning with Commissioner Kaʻanāʻanā
Post announcement of new festival dates upon approval SPC and Commissioner KaʻanāʻanāContinue to monitor website and social media pages
Continue weekly 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