DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETINGWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020 AT 9:00 AM
HAWAI‘I STATE CAPITOLSENATE CAUCUS ROOM, CHAMBER LEVEL
415 S. BERETAINA STREETHONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96813
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Māpuana de Silva
Mehanaokalā HindKalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Misty Kela‘iMonte McComberMike McCartney, thenDennis Ling-Senate President’s Designee
Community Member At-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
City & County of Honolulu Designee
Governor’s Designee
Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism (DBEDT)

Jacob Aki
Jesse Broder Van Dyke
Maka Casson-Fisher
Kapalaiʻula de Silva
Vicky Holt Takamine
Alexis Hou
Ngahiraka Mason
Jay Rojas
Verna Takashima
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi-Senator English’s Office
Senator English’s Office
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Kamehameha Schools
PA‘I Foundation
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
Independent (New Zealand/Honolulu)
PA‘I Foundation
Artist/Cultural Practitioner
Mayor’s Office of the Culture and Arts (MOCA)

Margaret Ahn-

Attorney General’s OfficeJamie Lum
Keliann Yamamoto

-

DBEDT
DBEDT-

Community Member At-Large
House Speaker’s Designee

Guests:Staff:

Apologies:
Snowbird Bento
Richard Onishi
CALL TO ORDER:

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 2 of 7

The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Thursday, January 29, 2020, at 9:23 a.m.,
who welcomed everyone present.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 23, 2020 MEETING MINUTES:
Minutes of the meeting held on January 23, 2020, were approved on a motion by Chair English,
moved by Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded by Mr. McComber, with the following amendments:
Page 4:

Last Paragraph, 8th line down, “and Spanish” was inserted after “French”

Page 5:

Public Testimony header should be added above the Public Testimonies.

Motion was unanimously approved as corrected.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. DBEDT Report:
Review of PA‘I Foundation Contract Amendments:
Mr. Ling gave an update on the amendments to the PAʻI Foundation contract. He statedthat a copy of the revised proposed amendments was sent to Ms. Takamine and is now
awaiting her acceptance and the Commission’s approval. Ms. Takamine advised theCommission that after reviewing the revised contract, PA‘I Foundation has chosen not toaccept the revised contract and requested a termination of the contract, in accordancewith paragraph 14, Termination for Convenience, of the General Conditions of thecontract. They will continue to support and celebrate the Festival. She thanked theCommission for the opportunity.
Approval for DBEDT to enter into the contract with Strategies 360:
Review of Strategies 360 Contract:
The Commission reviewed the contract between DBEDT and Strategies 360 that Mr.
Ling presented for approval. Regarding the Compensation and Payment Schedule,
Mr. Ling stated that upon full execution of the Contract, Strategies 360 will be paid
$2,095 per month which includes the general excise tax.
Motion was made by Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded by Mr. McComber to approve
the Contract between DBEDT and Strategies 360 for $2,095 per month including
general excise tax.
Motion was passed unanimously.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 3 of 7

At 9:34 a.m. Mr. Mike McCartney of DBEDT designated Mr. Ling as DBEDT designee
before leaving the meeting.
Solicitation for Logistics Coordinator for Delegate Registration and Management ofuse of Hawaiʻi Convention Center (HCC):
Mr. Ling reported that DBEDT will be doing a solicitation for a Logistic Coordinator fordelegate registration and management at HCC which he will discuss withMs. June Matsumoto of the Pacific Island Institute (PII) who was unable to attend themeeting. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā indicated that the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is in the processof obtaining a logistics coordinator as well and suggested that he and Mr. Ling work
together on this issue.
Update on Delegate Housing, Transportation, etc.:
Deferred to the next meeting due to the absence of Ms. Matsumoto of Pacific IslandsInstitute.
B. Festival Director’s Report:
Ms. Takamine reported that she met with Bishop Museum, Kamehameha Schools, andthe Kamehameha Day Commission, and that they will be meeting regularly to organize
their respective events. Bishop Museum will host the Ua Ao Kaiwiʻula 2nd Annual Film
Festival celebrating Hawaiian Language, Culture and Wayfinding Hawaiʻi on June 13,
2020. An application was sent out for students to enter and submit a 10-minute video forthe project.
Ms. Takamine also reported that she was trying to organize individual local liaisons foreach of the participating countries. Community members have volunteered such as thePolynesian Cultural Center and We Are Oceania, who will reach out to the Micronesiancommunity. Liaisons are also being asked to assist with the mele for the ecumenicalservice which will be compiled into a book. PA‘I Foundation contacted Kamehameha
Publishing to see if they might be interested in publishing a small publication of the mele.
She is working with the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa to get an ethnomusicology
student to coordinate the project. She will also cover the costs of those things.
Ms. Takamine said We Are Oceania is interested in hosting the YouthSummit/Ambassador Program. She estimates they will need $20,000.00 for the one-day
Summit meeting and has reached out to the Hawaiʻi Council for the Humanities toinquire about funding.
Ikaika Kincaid of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association indicated they would like tohelp with the waʻa arrivals and demonstrations. They are also interested in organizing
some of the visiting delegates to be part of the Molokaʻi to Oʻahu canoe race on June 20.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 4 of 7

This could be part of the Oceanic Games proposed by Kanaeokana. It would be a 3-day
event that includes educational sessions. The estimated cost is $20,035.00 which still has
to be raised. The proposed project and schedule is attached to the Festival Director’sReport.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion and Decision-making Regarding Division of Tasks Amongst Commission
Members
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā, referring to the organizational chart on page 42 of the FESTPAC Host Country
Manual, proposed that a Commissioner take responsibility for each of the seven areas: Ms.
Bento – Artistic Director; Mr. McComber – Director of Administration; Senator English andRepresentative Onishi – Director of Festival Coordination; Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā – Director ofMarketing and Sponsorship; Mr. McCartney/DBEDT – Director of Venues/Facilities; Ms. Kelaʻi– Director of Support Services; and Ms. Hind – Director of Residential Operations. The Directorwould oversee the tasks/responsibilities in their columns. Ms. Takamine suggested that Patrick
Bronco from the State Department be put in charge of Security. Benton Pang has been handling
Biosecurity, and Customs and Immigrations, and should continue to do so. Mr. Pang brought
together several federal and state agencies to give presentations at the Council of Pacific Culture
meeting last September. This information was saved onto a USB drive and distributed to all thePacific Island delegates that attended. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā will make sure this information is given toStrategies 360 to put onto the FESTPAC website.
Ms. Ahn suggested that the Commission make a motion to adopt the assignments.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā moved that the Commission adopt the assignments, as discussed, and as outlined
in figure 4, on page 42, of the FESTPAC Host Country Manual. Ms. de Silva seconded.
Motion carried unanimously.
Chair English pointed out that not every member was given an assignment and those members
would be asked to take on other duties.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā will perform the functions for media credentialing. Mr. Ling then asked Ms.
Takamine to send the forms relating to the media to DBEDT for distribution to Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā.
Report on Actions Previously Taken on the Assigned Tasks:
Chair English reported that Ms. Kela‘i and Ms. Takitani-Puahi are coordinating the Festival
Village but emphasized that the Commission is responsible for raising the funds to support it.
He also thanked them for acquiring the permits. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā stated that the City and Countyof Honolulu was asked to hold back-up sites for the events. He indicated that Ke‘ehi Lagoon
could pose a problem if it rains and a good back up plan is always necessary for worst casescenario. Secured backup sites are Kualoa and Ala Moana (Mauka section).

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 5 of 7Ms. Takamine indicated that if the Commission is looking for an alternative location for theFestival Village, she already contacted the Bishop Museum, and they are willing to host theFestival Village on the great lawn. She feels that is a good alternative site to the Ala Wai. The$60,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is available if the Commission
decided to move the Festival Village from the Ala Wai, but permission is required from NEA tomove the funds as the Festival Village is supposed to be held at a park. Also, the $15,000 fromthe State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) for equipment rentals is available which
would bring the total to $75,000.
Chair English stated that they communicated with the Department of Land and NaturalResources (DLNR) about the dredging of the Ala Wai Canal. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā said DLNR
informed him that the project would begin in January 2020 and be completed in May 2020.
However, DLNR is currently a month behind schedule which may push their completion date toJune 2020. Chair English recommended the Commission have another discussion with DLNR toclarify the project dates. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā volunteered to follow up on this matter.
Chair English reported that he has been meeting with various organizations and requestingsupport for different segments of the Festival, and they are willing to assist. He has spoken with
Hawaiian Airlines, Matson, and the Building Trades Council. He is arranging meetings withthem and inviting one Commissioner to attend.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā, as the Commissioner overseeing sponsorships, requested that Commission
members inform him about any potential sponsors they have approached to avoid duplicativeefforts. He will compile a master list.
Chair English also said he briefly spoke with Mr. Jack Wong of Kamehameha Schools, whoindicated they are open to funding additional Festival activities. Chair English will bescheduling a follow up meeting.
Chair English informed the Commission that he spoke with Ms Kuiniselani Tago-Elisara fromthe Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) who suggested that the Commissioners
telephone the delegations and update them on FESTPAC as they are very concerned. He said heand Mr. Aki will work out the time differences with each country’s handler on their side before
they start contacting them.
Mr. Ling noted that at the last meeting Ms. Tago-Elisara made reference to a newsletter thatneeds to go out immediately. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā indicated that he will take care of the newsletter.
Regarding the public relations for the Festival, Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā reported that a public relationscommittee is being assembled consisting of staff resources from the State Senate, State House,
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Royal Hawaiian Center, Kamehameha Schools and Strategies 360.
He also indicated that he would like Ms. Takamine and Ms. de Silva to make appearances on themorning television shows to promote the Festival. Lastly Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā reported that a press

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 6 of 7

conference is being scheduled to stop the rumors that FESTPAC is not taking place and let
people know that it is still happening.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY:
Chair English invited the public to testify. Ms. Verna Takashima, artist and cultural practitioner,and Ms. Ngahiraka Mason, a Hawaiʻi resident representing the New Zealand community,addressed the Commission.
Ms. Takashima inquired on her and on several other artists’ behalf about the applications theysubmitted for FESTPAC in 2019. To date they have not heard anything back as to whether they
were approved to have their artwork shown in the Festival. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā explained that Ms.
Bento is now overseeing that area for the Festival, and she was not able to attend the meeting due
to a teaching commitment. He will update her and figure out how to communicate witheveryone and take it from there.
Ms. Mason said that the New Zealand Delegation has 100 delegates including visual artists,
practitioners for contemporary and traditional arts who were selected by Aotearoa to perform atthe Festival. They are already funded by the government to attend the Festivals, but the fundingneeds to be encumbered. DBEDT has a trust fund to accept funds and will work with the PacificIslands Institute to submit an invoice.
Chair English thanked everyone for attending.
Chair English informed the Commission that representatives of the Council for Indigenous
People from Taiwan will be attending the Commission meeting Thursday, February 20, 2020.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 6, 2020, at 8:30 a.m., at the Hawaiʻi StateCapitol, Senate Caucus Room, Chamber Level.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, January 29, 2020 Hawaiʻi State Capitol, Senate Chamber, Chamber Level
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Page 7 of 7

ADJOURNMENT:The Meeting was adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,_________________________________
Senator J. Kalani English
Chair________________________
Date