MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021 AT 2:30 PM
VIA VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM: VIDEO / AUDIO CONFERENCE
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, Chair
Maenette Ah Nee-Benham
Snowbird Bento
Sylvia Hussey
Jarrett Keohokālole
Jamie Lum-Richard Onishi
Makanani Salā
Māpuana de Silva-Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
Governor’s Designee
Community Member At-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Senate President’s Designee
Department of Business, Economic Developmentand Tourism (DBEDT)House Speaker’s Designee
City and County of Honolulu Designee
Community Member At-Large

Jackie Burke
Maka Casson-Fisher
Mehanaokalā Hind
Dede Howe
Lynn Martin Graton
Ngahiraka Mason
Aaron Salā
Mālia Sanders
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi
Pris Texeira
Kēhaulani Puʻu
Margot Vitarelli-

Public Member
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Public Member
Public Member
City Department of Parks & Recreation
Public Member

Margaret Ahn
Timothy Tiu
Scott Tome-Deputy Attorney General
DBEDTDBEDTApologies:
Richard Onishi-House Speaker’s Designee

Guests:Staff:

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:30pm via ZOOMPage 2 of 4

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā at 2:33 p.m., who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM and Facebook Live.
Chair conducted roll call of Commissioners present: Chair, Vice-Chair Salā, Ms. Ah NeeBenham, Ms. Bento, Ms. Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Lum, Mr. Onishi, Ms. de Silva.
Chair invited Mr. Keohokālole to share his thoughts for today’s wehena (opening). Mr.
Keohokālole shared that he encouraged Commissioners to reflect upon Hawaiʻi’s history andHawaiʻi’s role as the host of FestPAC as an opportunity to engage in a number of exciting andimportant possibilities such as showcasing Hawaiʻi’s arts and cultural practices to the Pacificcommunity; hosting delegations; and strengthening and reconnecting with fellow Pacificpeoples. Reflecting upon these possibilities serves as an important reminder for the Commission
about how King Kalākaua’s role in history for example, he estored many Hawaiian cultural arts
practices, as the international head of state, he hosted delegations from other countries, and hestrengthened ties with fellow Pacific communities. Mr. Keohokālole reflected that in manyways, our efforts are a continuation of what Kalākaua initiated and worked on as King. Mr.
Keohokālole then introduced Ms. Mehanaokala Hind to share additional thoughts for today’s
wehena.
Ms. Hind thanked Mr. Keohokālole for providing inspiring comments about Kalākaua that wecould all learn from. His establishment of Hoʻoululāhui (an organization of benevolent work)and his ability to be very innovative and unafraid of new technologies and ideas wereremarkable. Kalākaua always looked for ways to put forth the best of Hawaiʻi and that we also
can draw inspiration from his ability to nurture diplomatic relationships as an opportunity tobring the lāhui (people/nation) together through FestPAC. The Festival is an opportunity toengage in diplomatic relationships in the Pacific and bringing forward cultural and ancestral
strengths that will positively impact Hawaiʻi.
Chair thanked former Commissioner Hind for sharing her thoughts and assisting with the wehena
today.
Chair turned over this portion of the agenda to Ms. Salā for her to make an introduction. Ms.
Salā introduced Ms. Kēhaulani Puʻu, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation. She will be Ms.
Salā’s partner with matters pertaining to the City and County of Honolulu such as securingvenues, permits, etc. Chair expressed his thanks to Ms. Puʻu for her kōkua (help) and that theCommission is grateful for her assistance. Ms. de Silva also expressed her appreciation andmentioned that she looks forward to working with Ms. Puʻu.
Chair offered Ms. Puʻu the opportunity to share her thoughts. Ms. Puʻu expressed that she islooking forward to working with Commissioners to host a great FestPAC.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, he noted thatpublic testimony was not received prior to the meeting and proceeded with the rest of the agenda
items.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:30pm via ZOOMPage 3 of 4

APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 25, 2021 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were distributed and reviewed by Commissioners. Chair asked if there were any
comments or changes to the minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to be made and it wasmade by Ms. Ah Nee-Benham and seconded by Ms. de Silva. A roll call vote was requested
with the following Commissioners approving the motion to approve the minutes: ChairKa‘anā‘anā, Vice-Chair Salā, Ms. de Silva, Ms. Lum, Ms. Ah Nee-Benham, Ms. Hussey, Mr.
Keohokālole, Ms. Bento.
Motion was unanimously approved.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair reported that there were no Permitted Interaction Group meetings held between the lastCommission meeting and today’s meeting.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE UPDATE – DISCUSSION ON ACTIONREGARDING SUPPORT OF NaHHA’s FINALIST FOR FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
Chair informed Commissioners that in preparation for today’s meeting, he met with Ms. Sandersand indicated that we were ready share publicly that Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association(NaHHA) has selected Mr. Aaron Salā as the finalist for the position of Festival Director. Ms. deSilva entertained a motion that the Commission support NaHHA’s selection in the hiring of Mr.
Aaron Salā for the position of FestPAC’s Festival Director. It was seconded by Mr.
Keohokālole.
Chair invited Commissioners to discuss the motion. He reiterated, for clarity again, that thehiring is being done by NaHHA and the motion made is for the Commission to support
NaHHA’s selection of Mr. Salā as the Festival Director.
A roll call vote was requested with the following Commissioners approving the motion tosupport NaHHA’s selection of Mr. Salā: Chair Ka‘anā‘anā, Vice-Chair Salā (recused), Ms. deSilva, Ms. Lum, Ms. Ah Nee-Benham (recused), Ms. Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Bento.
Chair stated that Vice-Chair Salā and Ms. Ah Nee-Benham recused themselves from today’svote.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā invited the public to again offer comments. Mr. Aaron Salā provided remarksthat he is looking forward to working with Ms. Sanders and all Commissioners collectively andindividually. He commented on Mr. Keohokālole’s wehena today in that he recalled a mele(song) called Maunakea written by Mr. Kīhei de Silva about Queen Emma that described hertravels throughout the island chain. Kalākaua envisioned building the nation by going out into
the world and entering into treaties with other countries; whereas, Emma went to the piko (thesource/center) to understand what was going on in different areas of the islands. Through
FestPAC, we will be reaching out to the Pacific and bringing incredible cultures to Hawaiʻi.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, November 8, 2021, at 2:30pm via ZOOMPage 4 of 4

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair informed Commissioners that Ms. Sanders will be distributing a proposed 2022
Commission meeting schedule. He requested that Commissioners inform Ms. Sanders of anyscheduling conflicts with the proposed dates.
Ms. de Silva reported to the Commission that she participated in a Council of Pacific Arts andCulture (CPAC) working group meeting today. She commented that whenever CPAC meets, shereports to members with an update of Hawaiʻi’s plans. She reported to CPAC that the firstchoices for venues have been made and that the Commission is expected to name a Festival
Director soon. She also reported that Hawaiʻi will have a robust plan for 2022 and that she will
inform CPAC of our progress.
Ms de Silva reported that questions were raised regarding the possibility of hosting a virtual
event. She indicated that following the 2022 Virtual Youth Conference, she will have more
information about whether a virtual Festival would be feasible. A second question raised related
to how Hawaiʻi will handle COVID-19 and health protocols. She assured CPAC members that
there will be strict protocols in place and that as the world health situation improves, some of therules in Hawaiʻi may be lifted.
Mr. Keohokālole thanked Ms. de Silva for her report. He asked about how the working groupmembers received the updates. Ms. de Silva commented that her report was received well. She
expressed that the Commission has a plan, and they were pleased to know that our plans areprogressing well.
Ms. Lum asked Ms. de Silva about when the next CPAC meeting would be held. Ms. de Silva
replied that it will be held in the first quarter of 2022.
Chair commented that Ms. de Silva is the current Chair of CPAC because Hawaiʻi is hosting thenext FestPAC.
Ms. de Silva commented that next Thursday is Kalākaua’s birthday, so she thanked Mr.
Keohokālole for his timely wehena.
NEXT MEETING – NOVEMBER 22, 2021
The next FestPAC Commission meeting is confirmed for Monday, November 22, 2021 at
2:30pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā adjourned meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,Kalani Ka‘anā‘anāChair

11/16/2021
Date