DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) SITE INSPECTION MEETINGFRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2018, AT 9:00 A.M.
KAKAʻAKO WATERFRONT PARK &MAGIC ISLAND/ALA MOANA PARKHONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Lynn DeCoite
Mehana Hind
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anāMisty Kela‘i
Dennis Ling
Monte McComber-Senate President’s Designee
House Speaker’s Designee
Office of Hawaiian Language
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
City & County of Honolulu Designee
DBEDT’s Designee
Governor’s Designee

Jacob Aki
James Huang
Jeanne Ishikawa-Carrie Leong
Michael Pili Pang
Vicky Takamine-Senator English’s OfficeTaiwan Economic & Cultural Office (TECO)
Department of Parks & Recreation
City & County of Honolulu, Kapolei Hale
City & County of Honolulu Parks & Recreation
PA‘I Foundation
PA‘I Foundation

Guests:Staff:

Gregg Kinkley
Jamie Lum
Selma Malcolm (Recording) -Assistant Deputy Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT

Apologies for Absence:
Māpuana de Silva
Snowbird Bento-Community Member
Community Member

CALL TO ORDER:
Chair English called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2018.
He welcomed everyone present.
The City & County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department’s staff members who were there toassist in transporting the Commissioners were asked to introduce themselves.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Site Inspection, Friday, October 26, 2018, Kakaʻako Waterfront Park &Magic Island/Ala Moana Park, Honolulu, HawaiʻiPage 2 of 3

SITE INSPECTION OF KAKAʻAKO WATERFRONT PARK AS A POSSIBLE SITE FORTHE FESTIVAL VILLAGE IN JUNE 2020:
Ms. Kela‘i announced that Jeanne Ishikawa, Deputy Director, Department of Parks andRecreation (assigned to the FESTPAC project) would be a bit late due to another meeting.
Ms. Takamine provided the Commissioners with a preliminary map of the Kakaʻako Park for thesite inspection. She mentioned that the NEA grant application was submitted for the Kakaʻakoproperty and that Kamehameha Schools, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the City & County of
Honolulu and the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) have committed to partneringwith PA‘I Foundation to develop a plan for the Festival Village at Kakaʻako.
During a brief discussion, Ms. Takamine explained that should Kakaʻako Park be selected as theFestival Village site, there would be 28 cultural villages on the Makai side of the park (14 oneach side) and various activities taking place on the Mauka side, including kite making/flying
and weaving demonstrations,. She pointed out the locations for the main Festival village, stages,
drop-off and pick-up areas for shuttle buses, VIP parking, food vendors, night markets, etc.
There were concerns about traffic management, security/police, electricity/power and water
during the Festivals. Chair English then enquired whether the City would provide thoseamenities for the Festivals. Ms. Ishikawa explained that the City & County will provide traffic
management and security, but usually, the company hosting the event is required to provide theirown generator(s), etc. She will take our concerns back to her office to research and determine
how best they can assist. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā enquired about the road construction schedule and thetimeline of the rail in 2020. Ms. Ishikawa will research that as well.
RECESS: Was from 10:21 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.
SITE INSPECTION OF MAGIC ISLAND/ALA MOANA PARK AS A POSSIBLE SITE FOR
THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE IN JUNE 2020:
The meeting reconvened at 10:40 a.m., at Ala Moana Park.
Ms. Ishikawa pointed out that Magic Island/Ala Moana Park is currently under construction
which is being done in phases. It is schedule to be completed before the Festival but delays
could occur. Ms. Takamine indicated to Commission members where the main Festival Village,etc., would be erected if Magic Island was selected as the Festival Village site. Ms. Ishikawa
raised a scheduling issue that FESTPAC is scheduled right after the annual Lantern Ceremony
which takes place during the Memorial Day weekend, and so there would only be about a week
to construct the Festival Village, causing a concern as to whether this was enough time. The
same concerns about traffic management, security/police, electricity/power and water during theFestivals were raised about Magic Island, as were raised at Kaka’ako, and also whether the City
would provide these services for the Festival.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Site Inspection, Friday, October 26, 2018, Kakaʻako Waterfront Park &Magic Island/Ala Moana Park, Honolulu, HawaiʻiPage 3 of 3

DECISION-MAKING ON SITE SELECTION FOR THE FESTIVAL VILLAGE IN JUNE
2020:
Members discussed the pros and cons of the two sites. By comparison, Magic Island has a larger
area and more parking. Members were comfortable that the venue could handle large crowds.
The downside is that Magic Island is a popular place for community and family events, sohaving the Festival Village taking up space for 10 days for the duration of the Festival, plus theamount of time to construct and take it down will displace park users. Kakaʻako Makai iscentrally located and right on the bus line. The most attractive factor about putting the Festvial
Village in Kakaʻako is that it would bring much needed activity to that part of the city. Ms.
Takamine stated that it is customary to leave back something for the host country after theFestivals concludes and suggested that it would be a great opportunity to convert the Festival
Village into an Arts & Culture Center for the Community/State with support and investments ofthe partnering companies. After much discussion, the Commission members agreed byacclamation to select the Kakaʻako Makai as the site to construct the Festival Village for
FESTPAC 2020.
Chair English thanked everyone for attending the meeting. He extended a big Mahalo to the City& County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department’s crew for their kind assistance during
the site inspection.
ADJOURNMENT:The meeting adjourned at 11:17 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
2/8/2019_______________________________________
Senator J. Kalani English
Chair________________________
Date