MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2024 AT 03:00 P.M.
HYBRID VIA ZOOM
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Shanty Asher
Māpuana de Silva
Jamie Lum-

Rep. Richard Onishi
Snowbird Bento-

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
City & County of Honolulu
Community Member At-Large
Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism (DBEDT)
Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives
Community

John Cole
Maka Casson-Fisher-

Office of the Attorney General
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)

Aaron J. Salā
Stacelynn Eli
Hailama Farden-

Festival Director, Gravitas Pasifika
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)

Apologies:
Stacy FerreiraSen. Jarrett Keohokāhole
Makana McClellan-

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Governor’s Designee

Staff:

Guests:CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā (Chair) at 3:05pm, who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.
WEHENA
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā called upon Commissioner Onishi to provide the wehena (opening).
Commissioner Onishi then invited Stacelynn Eli of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands(DHHL), who quoted King Kamehameha II; “Why shouldn’t I know. It is a path often walked
upon by my ancestors.” Guest speaker Eli then spoke to this ʻōlelo noeau (Hawaiian proverb) to
how it relates to the festival’s core values. Chair then proceeded to rollcall for attendance.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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ATTENDANCE
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā and Commissioners Asher, de Silva, Lum, Onishi and Bento were present.
Commissioners Ferreira, Keohokāhole, and McClellan were excused. Staff Member CassonFisher, Festival Director Aaron Salā, and Deputy AG Elise Amemiya, were also present via
Zoom.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSNo public testimony was received prior to this meeting. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited publicmembers attending the ZOOM call to testify on any agenda items. Guest speaker Hailama
Farden of OHA on behalf of Commissioner Ferreira requested a definitive schedule be released
for event planning. Chair responded that this would be re-examined after FD Salā’s reporting.
Chair continued on to the next agenda item.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
An Admin Committee meeting took place on Wednesday, April 10th with updates to thecommittee after a briefing of the Legislature which Commissioners Onishi and Keohokāhole, as
well as Commissioner Lum representing DBEDT attended prior, with no decision making.
Chair iterated that FD Salā and his team have been doing these updates across community
stakeholder groups like the legislature to keep externals informed. Seeing no further updates,
Chair moved on to the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 25th, 2024 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by Commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the March 25th, 2024 minutes. Commissioner Onishi motioned theapproval of minutes and it was seconded by Commissioner de Silva. With no further discussion
or amendments, Chair conducted a roll-call vote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā and Commissioners Asher,
Bento, de Silva, Lum, and Onishi voted in favor of approving the unamended minutes of the
March 25th 2024 meeting. Motion carried.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Festival Director (FD) Salā’s report covered on fundraising engagements, followed byprogramming, operations, meal logistics, transportation logistics, the current status with
USINDOPACOM relations, marketing and promotion updates, town halls, community
engagements, and volunteer logistics.
Regarding fundraising engagements, GP is now planning for engagements on April 23rd and 28th.
They are currently in discussion with Kamehameha Schools (KS) as to what support they canprovide. KS is currently working with GP to support engagement with delegation conversations.
They will additionally provide performance groups and practitioners with KS venues to engage
with local community. More details on will be provided by the Admin Committee at the end of
the month.

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Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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GP is engaged with Polynesian Voyaging Society, ʻOhana Wa'a, Kānehūnāmoku Voyaging
Academy are in conversation regarding the upcoming Wa'a arrival ceremony. For three days
during the festival, they will be providing opportunities for Tanaloa, and discussions centeringon the needs of delegates throughout the festival for three days of the event. These entities are indiscussions with Bishop Museum on ways they can provide additional support for the Wa'a
events.
Regarding programming, jotforms were updated to be inclusive of needs for visual andperforming arts, and the Young Pacific Leaders program. The jotforms are lists of information
gathered from countries in order to best prepare for what they are bringing to Hawai'i. Updates tothe program have additionally been finalized. Pua Sterling of GP has been working with program
leads regarding the expectations of program leads, and what they can provide to delegations as
they prepare to travel. One pagers will be made available on the festival website, making
information about each program publicly available.
On the topic of meal provisions, logistics will be further discussed within the Admin Committee
for proper presentation to the commission. The three main areas of planning meal provisions arefor delegates housed at the UH Mānoa dormitories, for delegates staying at partner hotels, andfor delegates with Bishop Museum and Kualoa.
For delegates staying at UH Mānoa, breakfast will be provided from June 3rd through the 17th onsite. Lunches and dinners from June 3rd to 5th will be per diem as delegates may not be staying at
UH all day. During FestPAC proper lunches and dinners will be taken at the convention center.
Everything will be take-away for delegates to take lunch and dinner as necessary, with assurance
meals are sent back to housing accommodations. Meals for delegates staying at Bishop Museum,carvers and tatau artists, and at Kualoa will be provided on-site. A dinner event with Bishop
Museum will take place on Sunday, June 9th on-site. Details of budgeting and facilitation will be
discussed by the admin committee.
In terms of the festival village design, FD presented a visual of the markup of the first hale madein Waimanalo in collaboration with the Albizia Project. They have been working with DLNR tofell trees and build 28 individual hale in portions to be pieced together at the convention center.
Construction and lumber transportation for the hale will be in late May to early June, with thatchordered as of the meeting date. Events International is now in collaboration with GP to preparecontent for the immersive experiences, with the buildout of the festival village set for May 31st.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā added that the village would be the center of FestPAC, and noted that GP andteam have had to be strategic of the details of construction as there is a two-day turnaround tobuild the village in its entirety. Chair then spoke on the topic of fireproofing and safety as theconvention center and fire marshal have been briefing with GP and team on requirements.
FD then shared a new budget will be brought to the next admin committee meeting regarding thefestival village. The committee’s intent is not to use any more public funds that have alreadybeen approved by the commission for the village build.

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Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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The Hālau Wa'a originally planned for the festival village will be replaced by a Mauloa, a double
hulled canoe, as an extension of the Wa'a arrival ceremony on June 5th. Delegations have been
assigned to three sections for Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. The intent behind theirassigned hale is to create integrated collaborative opportunities for delegates. The positions ofeach hale may change prior to the start of the festival.
The main stage will be a multimedia immersive experience in itself, with projections as well as a
printed star compass on the ground. This interactive area is meant to give representation to ourneighbor islands within the festival village, with footage from across the Paeʻāina, the Hawaiian
islands. The main lights in the exhibition halls will be turned off, lighting each hale individually.
Regarding transportation logistics, Andrew Lockwood of Pacific Islands Institute (PII) and his
team have commenced working on details of shuttling delegates. April 15th, is the latest deadline
for countries to provide their delegate information as to when they will arrive and depart from
Honolulu. FD then made a critical reminder that commissioners are responsible airport roundtrips, transfers, and shuttles. Transport for delegates will comprise of shuttle buses rather thanassigning individuals to buses, to and from the main festival venues. If there are specificdelegations that are participating in activities elsewhere, shuttles will be assigned to that effect.
Regarding biosecurity about the reception of containers at Honolulu Harbor that go throughcustoms and border protection, and state department of agricultural inspections. GP and team arealso working with the state department of transportation for an appointed location to store thesecontainers, then bring them to the convention center. FD noted that this is outside of PII’s scope,
while staying on the topic of transportation.
In discussion with INDOPACOM, GP has been waiting for an executive memo from thedepartment of state to the department of defense to fully activate engagements withINDOPACOM. They will have the most robust program out at Kualoa with the Wa'a, and haverequested items to fully execute this event. Anticipated are 40 voyagers sailing to Honolulu fromthe Pacific, supplemented by 400 Ohana Wa'a members. The commission will be responsible fora portion of this in terms of catering and other logistics. ʻOhana Wa'a and Kānehūnāmoku haverequested to lead this program. The goal is for the Department of State to activate theDepartment of Defense, which will then activate INDOPACOM on this inquiry, with final
details in progress as the executive memo has been relayed to the DOD.
With accommodation request form due as of this meeting date, thirteen countries have submitted
their requests so far. The partner hotel list is now on the FestPAC website. VIP delegates will bestaying at the Prince Waikiki. UH-hosted accommodations are approved for June 3rd through the17th supplemented by east and west center studio rooms for each delegation. FD Salā thenrecognized Andrew Lockwood and his team at PII for the work they’ve been doing on these
logistics.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā reiterated to commissioners that the bookends of this commitment would befrom June 3rd to 17th.

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Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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Regarding marketing and promotion, GP is working with Stryker Weiner & Yokota. Pua Sterlingof GP is overseeing the PR and communication pieces of this. An HNN interview took place on
April 1st, followed by an Arts at the Capitol engagement on April 12th. 4Miles has begun
producing a series of short promotional videos interviewing program leads and members of thecommission for FestPAC. 4Miles will be in communication with commissioners to speak on
their work outside of the festival, and how this work has brought them to the commission. They
will also be interviewing cultural practitioners throughout the community that will participate.
GP is now working with KHON, KITV, and HNN to build media partnerships prior to the event.
Hawai'i will be responsible for the live streaming of five events- the Wa'a Arrival ceremony,
opening ceremony, ecumenical service, closing ceremony, and performances on the festival
village stage. The governor’s office, through Commissioner McClellan, will be working on GP’sbehalf with 'Ōlelo Community Media. GP has asked for other bids on this task to further assist.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā noted to commissioners that in meetings with the SPC, prior commitments
have been made to film the Wa'a arrival, opening, ecumenical, and closing ceremonies. With anadditional daily “highlight reel” for media entities to additionally utilize. Chair noted that thecommission should be protective of this IP content on behalf of delegations and the state of
Hawai'i.
FD Salā continued. Regular standing meetings with the Governor’s office- primarily the firstlady and her staff, as well as standings with the Consuls General and the Governor’s cabinet
regarding FestPAC. Additional updates were provided to state legislature leaders on April 10th.
An additional CPAC meeting took place on the 10th, followed by a culture and foreign affairs
ministers meeting on the 11th. A high-level overview of the festival was provided, as this was thefirst time GP spoke directly with ministers of foreign affairs.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā added that this was crucial to festival development, as the commission has set
deadlines that countries have disregarded. Without specific information from delegations, it will
difficult for the team to plan ahead. Another issue Chair addressed was the concern of visas tocome to Hawai'i. An issue identified from Chair’s recent travel to Fiji was that the state
departments communicate with foreign affairs, but the foreign affairs office does not always passalong relevant information to the cultural ministers. Being able to present these areas of concern
within the same new to by will help facilitate better coordination and communication within
member countries of CPAC, as this is not bilateral between Hawai’i and the cultural ministers.
Engaging all channels, including the US State Department to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Commissioner de Silva continued on this area as this delayed response has the commission at aslight standstill. She then continued that this is a very critical festival event as this will be thefirst time every country will be represented, as well as the first time high level dignitaries andtraditional leaders will be gathering in this capacity.
Commissioner de Silva then reminded the commission that she had never received a program in
advance of her prior arrivals to FestPAC host countries. At past visits, they were often assigned
accommodations, then upon arrival learning that plans have changed. She then reminded thecommission that the capacity of this event will challenge leadership to “pivot and turn.”

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Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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FD Salā continued on this agenda item. Regarding community engagements, GP has been
actively onboarding volunteers for several months, with volunteer registration made available on
the festival website. FD then acknowledged Malia Sanders of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality
Association taking on coordination of volunteers, with training set in May.
FD shared as Hawai'i is home to pacific islanders living in diaspora, many are eager to support ofthis cultural festival. There is desire to participate in this event so that the community may
engage with and support delegates, and to ambassador Hawaii’s culture and people. GP is now
engaged in community town halls to rally what this may look like.
FD then shared Lālakea Foundation has begun their staff preparations for the opening andclosing ceremonies and invited Commissioner Bento to speak on this matter. She then shared
training had begun in Hilo, with a small group of people. Right now there is representation fromall major islands. Kaua'i, Maui, O'ahu, and Hawai'i Island. A few other halau have been invited
so that there may be a robust showing of different hula genealogies Hawaii represents. The main
artistic directors are Nālani Kanakaʻole and Huihui Mossman of Hālau O Kekuhi, and Pualani
Kanaka'ole Kanahele who will be programming the opening ceremony. Each island group will
be responsible for presenting their own hula. In the themes of Ho'olahui, regenerating Oceania,
these performances will be in tribute of Lahaina, giving back to the people of Maui.
Chair then asked of the public for questions, to which Mikki-Tae Tapara of Aotearoa (New
Zealand) made inquiry regarding the capacity of the festival space, as it was smaller than thedimensions previously communicated in March. He then shared he had concern for the items
already shipped from Aotearoa. Makanani Salā of GP and Events International responded to thisinquiry. When the exhibition space was designed, it was with the intent that all delegations
would have an equal performance space. She then thanked Aotearoa for being timely with theirform submissions, inclusive of sizes. Events International is informed they will be allocating
space for additional items. KS had asked to fill another offsite location with art, with discussion
to follow.
FD then invited guest speaker Paul Mawhar of Events International to give response. Mawhar
then reiterated that they are waiting to receive more information from delegations in order tomaintain equal opportunities for all nations to have a space provided for their art. He continued,
Events International will do their best to accommodate every request from each nation. Offsite
venues being considered are the Capitol Modern, or the Bishop Museum to accommodate larger
installations.
FD Salā then noted that all countries are meant to submit their delegation forms, inclusive of
their dignitaries as well. As invitations are intended to be sent at the end of April, GP intends tosee this task through promptly. They are now in collaboration with the First Lady’s office with
the Admin Committee to ensure that invites are received by proper personnel. With OHA as theprimary funder, they will need to speak with Chair Lindsay (OHA) and Kapouhana to discuss
this engagement. While the integrated work of OHA with the traditional leaders summit issensitive, it is an opportunity for Chair Lindsay to open a Talanoa session, relevant to the officeof foreign affairs to participate in. FD then restated dignitary invitations will be sent by the end

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Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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of April.
Guest speaker Chris of the Federated States of Micronesia then made inquiry regarding fooddemonstrations, expectations of each country for the ten day period, and how many VIPs are
expected from each country. FD Salā then responded that this information is available inside ofthe delegation portal on the FestPAC website, as well as to seek counsel with the head ofdelegation. FD Salā then asked of Commissioner Asher to follow up on this inquiry. Hearing andseeing no further testimony, chair then proceeded to the next agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Commissioner Lum shared an Admin Committee did take place on Monday, April 8th regarding
details mentioned in FD’s report, as well as broadcast and media opportunities. A question
regarding whether they will allow further dates prior to June 3rd through the 17th, to which thecommittee confirmed these dates will not change. The topic of delegation size arose, as New
Caledonia is intending to exceed the 100-person delegate limit, with the admin committee
requesting special dispensation as they will host the 2028 FestPAC. Any additional guests would
be self-funded.
Commissioner Onishi stated he would like to know the purpose of the larger delegation, and ifthey would include individuals observing festival operations for training purposes. If it were justto increase participation, that would be a separate area of discussion.
Commissioner de Silva then added, New Caledonia (NC) had hosted in 2000 and already has
experience, apart from digital platforms evolving. Commissioner stated if their government is
supporting the festival in 2028, then they would be funding those individuals for travel, to doresearch. The reason for the delegation visitor limit pertains to how many people can beaccommodated at different host venues and events. New Caledonia is known to have a large
contingent of performing artists, and there would be a concern as to performance space
occupancy. She then concluded more information would be needed from all NC participantsprior to preparing their accommodations to address this concern.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair deferred the agenda item as there was no meeting of the venues and programming
committee.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited public testimony. Hearing and seeing none, Chair moved on toannouncements
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Lum shared on the topic of financial disclosure statements, and reminded thecommission to complete theirs sooner than the end of May. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā then proposed an
ethics presentation to the commission to be scheduled for the next agenda. Commissioner Onishi
responded, this is within his official capacity as a legislator, and they do their disclosures on a

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, March 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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different timetable no matter the event. He then asked of AG Amemiya for further details on this
topic, to which she responded she would look into the matter and follow-up.
Chair then stated legislators are on a calendar cycle, with their financial disclosures set in
January. For regular state employees, May 31st is the deadline, with commission members
included in this same timeframe. Chair then reiterated the topic of New Caledonia’s extended
guest capacity be discussed, along with other items pending committee discussions.
Chair announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 29th 2024 at 3:00pm via
Zoom, with wehena (opening) by Commissioner McClellan.
Hearing no further announcements, the Chair asked for unanimous consent to adjourn themeeting, at 4:12PM
Respectfully Submitted,

May 7, 2024

Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair

Date