MINUTES OF THE COMMISISON ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CUTLURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 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

Maka Casson-Fisher
Mamiko Carroll
Ilihia Gionson
Dede Howe
Lynn Martin Graton
Monte McComber
Ngahiraka Mason
Aaron Salā
Malia Sanders
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi
Margo Vitarelli-Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
Public Member
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
Public Member
Royal Hawaiian Center
Public Member
University of Hawaiʻi/Royal Hawaiian Center
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Public Member

Margaret Ahn
Marlene HiraokaTimothy Tiu
Scott Tome-Deputy Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT

Guests:Staff:

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 11, 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 2:30 p.m., who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM and Facebook Live.
Chair called upon Mr. Gionson and Ms. de Silva to do the wehena (opening). Mr. Gionsonshared remarks regarding Indigenous Peoples’ Day and expressed that the Native Hawaiian
Hospitality Association (NaHHA) is fortunate and appreciative of working with a diverse groupof ʻōiwi (Native peoples) to advance the work of communities. Indigenous Peoples’ Day wascreated as a replacement for Columbus Day during the late 1980s early 1990s. Today is the firstyear that Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been recognized by the President of the United States.
The State of Hawaiʻi replaced Columbus Day with Discoverers’ Day in 1971 to recognize all
discoverers including those of the Pacific. NaHHA is honored to work with the FestPAC
Commission to host FestPAC together with nations of the Pacific. The organization is also
honored to work with the hundreds of businesses listed on the business directory located atkuhikuhi.com. He expressed mahalo (gratitude) to Ms. Hussey for OHA’s support of theprogram and also acknowledged the Native Hawaiian chambers of commerce on all islands. Mr.
Gionson also thanked colleagues among the hospitality and tourism industries of the American
Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA).
Mr. Gionson expressed that the core of any culture is its moʻolelo (oral stories and traditions).
Moʻolelo comes from previous generations who provided ancestral wisdom and guidance for thefuture. Mr. Gionson introduced Ms. de Silva as someone who has dedicated her life to theHawaiian culture as a Kumu Hula (Master Hula practitioner) to present the remainder of thewehena.
Ms. de Silva expressed that indigenous living encompasses all the values that she learned fromher family, her Kumu (teachers), schools she attended and through mele (songs) and hula(traditional dance) that were passed on to her. She shared that Princess Kaiulani’s birthday is on
October 16 and in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, she presented a hula that she learned fromMs. Pat Namaka Bacon called Kaʻiulani - I Mauna Lahilahi Ko Wehi that was written in the1880s. The mele also attributes pua māmane (flowers of the Māmane tree) to Kaiulani, a delicate
blossom like the Princess, that grows on mountain tops and is blessed by the wai (waters) of theniu (coconut). Ms. de Silva presented a beautiful hula and oli (chant) to all meeting participants.
Chair commented about the importance of indigenous wisdom and knowledge in the context ofwhat the Commission’s role is by creating a space for culture to be shared. It is not often sharedin this context; however, it is important to create a space for culture to be shared that especiallyaligns with the FestPAC Commission’s mission and goals.
Chair conducted a roll call of Commissioners and also introduced Ms. Sylvia Hussey, President
and CEO of OHA, who has joined the Commission.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, he continued
with agenda items.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 11, 2021, at 2:30pm via ZOOMPage 3 of 4

APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 27, 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 amotion to approve the minutes was made by Ms. Ah Nee and seconded by Ms. de Silva. A rollcall vote was requested with the following Commissioners approving the motion to approve theminutes: Chair Ka‘anā‘anā, Ms. Salā, Ms. de Silva, Ms. Lum, Ms. Ah Nee-Benham, Mr.
Onishi, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Bento. Ms. Hussey abstained.
Motion was approved with one abstention.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair reported that there was a Permitted Interaction , pursuant to Act 103, and stated that theAdministrative Committee (AC) has met between commission meetings and has provided awritten report and also will provide a summary as noted on the agenda.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair turned over this portion of the meeting to Ms. Ah Nee-Benham for an update from the AC.
Ms. Ah Nee-Benham noted that on today’s meeting agenda, there was an asterisk noted next tothe agenda item pertaining to the AC Update. This notation was included in case Commissioners
were required to convene in Executive Session to discuss confidential matters such as personnel
considerations; however, the Commission will not be going into Executive Session at today’smeeting. During the next Commission meeting, Commissioners will be convening in ExecutiveSession.
Ms. Ah Nee-Benham reported on the AC’s search for a Festival Director. She reported thatseven applications were received and that three will not be moving on to the next phase of theselection process. She confirmed that these individuals were notified by NaHHA via email. She
also confirmed that the four applicants who will move on to the next phase of recruitment havebeen notified and interviews will be scheduled soon.
Ms. Ah Nee-Benham asked that Commissioners hold the October 25th meeting for interviews.
She thanked the Chair, Mr. Keohokālole and Ms. Bento for participating in the October 9th AC
meeting to review applications received for the position of Festival Director.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION REGARDING THE MAIN FESTIVAL VILLAGE VENUE
Chair turned over the next portion of the agenda to Vice-Chair Salā. Vice-Chair expressed thatthe Venues Committee (VC) has not met since the last Commission meeting. She also reported
that they will be meeting with University of Hawaiʻi (UH) President David Lassner before thenext scheduled Commission meeting. Ms. Salā expressed that there seems to be a willingness byUH to work with the FestPAC Commission’s requests. She will have more to report during thenext FestPAC Commission meeting on October 25th.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā invited the public to again offer comments.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 11, 2021, at 2:30pm via ZOOMPage 4 of 4

Hearing no further comments from the public, Chair continued with announcements and the next
meeting date.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ms. de Silva suggested that the next Commission meeting on October 25th be scheduled for twohours since there will be additional business for Commissioners to discuss. It was so noted andagreed that a two-hour time frame will be allotted for the October 25th Commission meeting.
NEXT MEETING – OCTOBER 25, 2021
Chair requested for any feedback and conflicts regarding the two-hour time frame for theOctober 25th meeting. Hearing none, he confirmed that the October 25th meeting will be heldfrom 2:30-approximately 4:30 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā adjourned meeting at 2:49 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Chair

10/19/2021
Date