MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, JULY 11, 2022, AT 3:00 PM
VIA VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM: VIDEO / AUDIO CONFERENCE
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
Maenette Ah Nee-Benham Governor’s Designee
Māpuana de Silva
Community Member At-Large Designee
Sylvia Hussey
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Designee
Senate President’s Designee
Jarrett Keohokālole
Jamie Lum
Department of Business, Economic Development andTourism (DBEDT) Designee
Richard Onishi
House Speaker’s Designee
Kehaulani PuʻuCity and County of Honolulu Designee
Guests:Danny Akaka
Mamiko Caroll
Maka Casson-Fisher
Jonathan Johnson
Lynn J. Martin Graton
Ngahiraka Mason
Monte McComber
Mālia Sanders
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi
Margo Vitarelli
Mikki-tea Tapara-

Public Member
Public Member
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authoritiy
Public Member
Public Member
Public Member
Royal Hawaiian Center
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
Public Member
Public Member

Staff:
Elise Amemiya
Marlene Hiraoka
Timothy Tiu
Scott Tome-

Office of the Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT

Apologies:
Snowbird Bento
Aaron Salā-

Community Member At-Large Designee
Festival Director-

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, July 11, 2022, at 3:00pm
Page 2 of 4

CALL TO ORDER
At 3:03 p.m., Chair Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā welcomed all present. Chair then conducted roll call ofCommissioners: Chair, Ms .AhNee-Benham, Ms. Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Lum,
Ms. de Silva, Mr. Onishi, Ms. Puʻu.
The wehena (opening) was conducted by Mr. Danny Akaka.
Mr. Onishi introduced Mr. Danny Akaka as the son of late U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka andappreciates Mr. Akaka’s support of East Hawaiʻi as well as the state, and the many blessings that
the Akaka family has shared with Hawaiʻi. Mr. Akaka thanked Mr. Onishi and shared that his
wife Anna Akaka (who was initially scheduled to present the wehena) sends her regards.
Mr. Akaka briefly introduced the Mālama Honu the turtle program curated by the Mauna Lani
Resort in partnership with Sea Life Park, where green sea turtles have been raised and released at
the resort for over 30 years. The honu are a wonderful symbol that represent everyone coming
together, while caring for earth. He encouraged all to visit Mauna Lani and said he would be
happy to share the honu with everyone. He then presented a pule (prayer). Mr. Akaka translated
the pule shared in ‘Ōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), by expressing that as we gather as one
ʻohana (family) to prepare for FestPAC, a tradition of song and dance that we need to follow theala pono (path of righteousness) forward. As Hawaiʻi prepares to invite and bring together
people from the Pacific for the celebration of indigenous people as artists, scholars, dancers andother performers of the Pacific community convene in Hawaiʻi, this event will help to perpetuate
the arts and culture of the Pacific people to preserve and revive traditional arts and culture andshare a sense of unity among the Pacific people. He asked to keep all safe, protected and healthy
as everyone overcomes the challenges from the past few years due to the global pandemic. He
asked that healing hands be placed upon everyone and that all will come together so that thespirit of aloha will be shared with all.
Chair expressed his thanks to Mr. Akaka for the grounding message shared in the wehena.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, heproceeded with the rest of the agenda items.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 27, 2022, YEAR MEETING MINUTESThe June 27, 2022, 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 bemade and it was made by Mr. Onishi, seconded by Ms. Ah Nee-Benham. Ms. Ah Nee-Benham
asked that a spelling correction be made by replacing the word “gap” on page 3 with “GANTT”
as the appropriate spelling. A roll call vote was requested by the following Commissioners
approving the motion to approve the minutes of June 27, 2022 with non-substantive changes:
Chair, Ms .Ah Nee-Benham, Ms. Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Lum, Ms. de Silva, Mr. Onishi,
Ms. Puʻu all approved the June 27, 2022, minutes.
Motion to adopt the June 27, 2022, minutes, amended with one spelling correction, wasapproved.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, July 11, 2022, at 3:00pm
Page 3 of 4

REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā reported that no committee meetings were held.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATEAs there were no Administrative Committee meetings held, the chair moved on to the next
agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE UPDATEAs there were no Venue and Programming Committee meetings held, the chair moved on to thenext agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR REPORT
Chair turned over this portion of the meeting to Ms. Mālia Sanders who provided the Festival
Director report from Mr. Aaron Salā via pre-recorded video from Fiji. The FD reported that
outstanding action items discussed previously will be reported during the Commission meetingin August. He reported that he was invited to attend the Pacific Islands Forum being held in Fiji
where one session will be focused on FestPAC 2024. He commented that the forum is focusedon the design of the Blue Pacific Strategy. The FD further commented that climate change
dominates the meeting which outlines a long-term path for the region with a focus on climatechange and fostering sustainable development.
FD Salā shared the FestPAC save-the-date flyer created by a graduate of the University of
Hawaiʻi, Academy of Creative Media. He also shared a digital video spot that was created by
4Miles LLC. FD, Commissioner Bento, Dr. James Viernes of the East-West Center’s PacificIslands Development Program, and a Fijian University of Hawaiʻi student all assisted with its
creation. The FD will be sharing the video during the 50th anniversary reception at the forum. He
also indicated that the reception will be attached to an exhibit that will feature FestPAC throughthe years. He will provide a summary of his participation in the forum at the next Commission
meeting.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā asked members if there were any questions.
Ms. de Silva called attention to the artwork and that The Pacific Community’s (SPC) logo shouldbe placed on all visuals/communication pieces regarding FestPAC 2024. She mentioned that theFD may not have participated in those discussions as they occurred previous to his role as theFD, however, since the video that was just shared was produced in a rush, the SPC logo may nothave been considered at the time of production. Ms. de Silva also mentioned that all materials
must be translated into French, as well. This information was noted by staff who will follow up
with FD.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, July 11, 2022, at 3:00pm
Page 4 of 4

Following the FD’s report, Chair expressed that there are several areas that requires further
discussion with regards to FestPAC planning. He is concerned that plans are not moving as
quickly, and he will include these agenda items for the next Commission meeting. While themajor areas such as housing, etc. appear to be set, he feels there needs to be more movement inother planning areas. He will be discussing these matters with committee chairs in terms ofprioritizing outputs and outcomes.
Mr. Keohokālole agreed with Chair’s remarks. To be very specific, the one piece he feels is
missing is a timeline for fundraising. He requested that this topic be included on the next
Commission meeting agenda. Mr. Keohokālole also feels that if the FD needs more support toassist with fundraising and other matters, we may need to consider onboarding additional staff toassist the FD. Ms. Ah Nee-Benham, as Chair of the Admin Committee, understood the concerns
and requests.
At the suggestion of Ms. Sanders, Ms. de Silva reported on the Pacific Islands Forum that the FD
is currently attending in Fiji. Organizers invited the SPC to participate with less a month’s
notice. Included in the forum is the reception for the 50th Anniversary of the Festival of PacificArts and Culture. The intent is to launch a strategy concurrent with FestPAC and the Pacificregional cultural strategy. The SPC invited Ms. de Silva to provide closing remarks and she will
be doing so followed by the President of Fiji. She stated that this is a great opportunity andpresents good visibility for Hawaiʻi within the Pacific community. The video that the FD shared
will also be presented. Ms. de Silva read her closing remarks to Commissioners.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair invited the public to again offer comments. Hearing none, he moved into announcements.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā congratulated Mr. Jonathan Johnson on his retirement after 34 years of service
with the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts. Mr. Johnson expressed that he would becontinuing to support FestPAC as a volunteer as planning continues.
NEXT MEETING AUGUST 15 , 2022
The next FestPAC Commission meeting is confirmed for August 15, 2022, at 3:00 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā adjourned meeting at 3:38 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,_______________________________
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair_July 12, 2022________________________
Date

FestPAC Venues & Programming Committee Meeting
Monday, August 8, 2022
3:30 p.m. via Zoom
Minutes
Attendees: Jamie Lum (Chair), Representative Richard Onishi, Kēhaulani Puʻu; Festival Director
Aaron Salā, Terava Casey, Mālia Sanders
Ms. Lum opened the meeting and turned it over to FD Salā. FD Salā introduced Ms. Terava
Casey, an intern who is assisting him with FestPAC .
Discussion Topics
Festival Programming:
FD Salā began by saying that the SPC expects our Festival programming to reflect their 2050
Strategy. He has been participating in more meetings with the SPC and is trying to understandtheir expectation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State of Hawaiʻi and
the SPC is being drafted, and hopefully this MOU will outline those expectations.
The committee discussed and agreed upon the basic Festival Programming elements: Opening
and Closing Ceremony, Parade of Nations, Waʻa Ceremony, and activities that fall within the
Programming Bucket definitions. The latter will be more clearly defined once we receive intent
to participate responses from the delegations.
There was discussion about the Parade of Nations. FD Salā stated that the original plan when
the festival was scheduled for 2020 was to include the Parade of Nations as part of theKamehameha Day Parade. For 2024, we still have that option or it can be staged as a separate
event. Ms. Sanders said it can be expensive to have a separate parade and getting permits toshut down streets is cumbersome. She asked if the parade needs to be a street parade. FD Salāsaid no and gave an example of the parade being held in a stadium at a past festival. Rep.
Onishi suggested that we ask UH if we can use the stadium on campus for the parade. The
committee agreed with this approach to have a the parade as a separate event (separate from
K‐Day Parade) on the UH campus.
FD Salā and Ms. Casey will develop a draft Programming Calendar which this committee will
review and present to the Commission at the next meeting on August 15.
Delegate Housing:
FD Salā said he has re‐engaged discussions with Dean Shimamura at UH Housing. The current
housing contract is for 1,800 rooms plus two meals per day. FD Salā thinks we will probably
need to increase the rooms by 500 for a total of 2,300. If that happens, we will have to make a
10% downpayment for the additional rooms by June 2023. Mr. Shimamura indicated there’s
still time for the Commission to make this decision.
1

Funding/Budget:
While funding is not the primary kuleana of this Committee, there was some discussion as towhether budget should drive the Festival Programming or vice versa. Rep. Onishi stated that heis willing to introduce funding legislation and encourage his colleagues to support FestPAC, notjust for economic development reasons, but because it is the right thing to do as the festival
host. He also believes the Feds need to step up with funding, as well, and is willing to join the
FD and other Commission members to talk with our Congressional delegates.

Follow‐up Items
1. Draft Programming Calendar – for review at August 15th Commission meeting.
2. Pending: Mr. Salā will schedule a meeting with Rep. Onishi to discuss meeting with thecarpenters union, BIA, and other industry groups about the possibility of donating laborfor construction of structures for the Festival Village.

2

Meeting Minutes
Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Admin Committee
Meeting on Monday July 25, 2022 and on Thursday August 11, 2022
Attendance at both meetings:
Commissioners:
Maenette Ah Nee-Benham
Sylvia Hussey
Kalani KaʻanāʻanāJarrett Keohokālole
Festival Director (FD): Aaron Salā
Staff:
Mālia Sanders
Monday July 25, 2022, 3:00-4:00pm, Zoom
1. Festival Director overviewed his recent meetings with Center of Pacific Arts and Culture(CPAC). This will be presented to the full commission at the August 2022 Meeting.
2. Admin committee members discussed a wide-range of tasks to include:a. Timeline with defined deliverables.
b. Revised festival budget reflecting current plans and costs.
c. Fund development strategic plan.
d. Revisiting the core infrastructure of the Festival Director office, e.g., org chart,
fiscal management/fiduciary agent, marketing/communications, othercommittees/committee structure.
3. Discussion led to requested deliverables to be presented to the admin committee atnext meeting on Thurs. 8/22. Deliverables:a. A project timeline that organizes and displays the tasks/events that need to becompleted. This will assist with funding, management of effort by festival
director/team as well as commissioners, and so on.
b. A revised Festival Budget that accounts for what has already been expended,reflects current festival planning (real costs).
c. A more complete festival fund development plan that the admin committee canreview.
Thursday August 22, 2022, 4:30-5:30pm, Zoom
1. Festival Director overviewed his recent meeting with SPC on Sunday, August 7th, and his
first meeting with the FestPAC Work Group on Monday, August 8th. His notes fromthese meetings will presented at the next full commission meeting (August 2022). Of
importance was the request to locate an MOU that describes the agreement between
Hawaiʻi and SPC to host the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture. FD Salā has beeninquiring. Commission Chair Kaʻānaʻāna stated that he had not seen an MOA. More

2.

3.

4.

5.
6.

work will be done to locate an MOA. Lacking one the Admin Committee will take-up thistask at the next admin committee meeting.
Festival Director shared invitations to:a. Invite to Mosoʻoi Festival, American Samoa (October 2022)
b. Invite to Fiji for meetings with SPC (Public Health Dept, Land Resources Dept forbiosecurity, Communications team for broadcasting, discussions aroundintegrating PRCS into FestPAC programming)
Festival Director overviewed project timeline (see attached). Admin committee asked
clarifying queries. Highlights:
a. August: a review of prior FestPAC agreements & commitments will be presented
to full commission; and, a program draft will be presented to full commission.
Clarification that “50” will be the current delegation count.
b. September: FestPAC presentation to PICL; FD will be convening all committee
leads; and marketing collateral will be developed.
c. October: FD travel (SPC in Fiji) & FD w/commissioners to DC (late Octobr/earlyNovember).
d. November: MOU Hawaiʻi/SCP/CPAC completed; FundDev Sponsorship &Marketing blue print established; Aotearoa Tech Visit.
e. December: Relaunch Website (w/all information) & Social Media Strategy inplace; Delegation dossier (binders) commenced in preparation for February 2023
SPC/CPAC Tech visit.
f. Refer to attachment for 2023 Quarterly timeline and 2024 ramp-up to event.
g. There will be more work on planning post-festival efforts.
Addressing the task of presenting a festival fund development plan for the admin
committee to discuss, the Festival Director discussed a listing of donors (past andcommited). Discussion regarding particular donors, procedure & protocol ensued. NOTE:
this is still a draft listing needing further development and not ready to be shared.
Admin committee discussed the need for a Fund Development Manager and admin
support (a minimum of 2 people) to manage this important effort. Of note: FD withcommissioners (and allies to FestPAC) will be integral to this fund/friend raising effort.
Potential next steps to acquire this support was proposed. FD will reach out and reportback to the admin committee.
The FD reported that his team is in the process of pricing multiple elements of the event
and was not prepared to present a revised Festival Budget.
Admin committee will continue to work with FD on the above items to include building amore robust festival core infrastructure (see notes from July meeting).

Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture
6-16 June 2024
Admin Committee meeting FD report
Logistics Calendar (11 Aug 2022)
Important notes:
1. Meeting with SPC (Sunday, 7 Aug)
2. First meeting with FestPAC WG (8 Aug)
3. Bi-cameral Proclamation, therefore, MOU with SPC
a. This will level set both the Festival and the Budget
4. Convention Center
5. Presentation of FestPAC 1-pager
6. Initial CRM
7. Invite to Mosoʻoi Festival, American Samoa (October 2022)
8. Invite to Fiji for meetings with SPC (Public Health Dept, Land Resources Dept forbiosecurity, Communications team for broadcasting, discussions around integrating
PRCS into FestPAC programming)
CALENDAR
2022 August• 15 Aug – FestPAC Commission Meetingo Re/commit to decisions
 Festival Village location
 Ancillary Venues
 Delegation numbers
o Discussion and decision on FestPAC delegation counts (50 to 100?)
 FestPAC delegate housing at UHM
 Potential housing at EWC (Lincoln Hall, Hale Mānoa?) Hotel blocks
o Re/commit to Programming buckets
 Presentation of initial draft program (this will be fluid all the way throughthe end of the Festival)
2022 September• 12-14 September – Pacific Island Conference of Leaders (PICL)

•

•

•

20 member countries invited: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Commonwealth of theNorthern Mariana Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Nauru, Niue, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Guam, Hawaiʻi, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands,
New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Palau
Recommit and convene committee leads (monthly standings)
o Artistic/Creative (programming)o Admin (finance, admin/secretariat/human resources/delegations)o Festival Coordination (liaison with government, NGOs, municipal gov’t, etc.)
o Venues and Facilitieso Support Services
o Media, Marketing and Sponsorshipo Residential
Marketing collateral (re)designed – updated logo, postcards, invites

2022 October• Mosoʻoi Festival, American Sāmoa• SPC Meetings, Fiji
• Recommendation (If not October, then November) – Washington DC
o INVITE Secretary Haaland (Interior)o INVITE Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegationo INVITE National Endowment – Arts/Humanities (WestAF)o INVITE Smithsonian Institution (Senator Hirono, Asia/Pacific Museum)o Other organizations as appropriate• Admin Comm: FestPAC legal structure, liability insurances, IPR, TK, Copyright discussions
to commence, etc.
• Ongoing committee plans/meetings• Festival Secretariat established (PIDP)
2022 November• MOU Hawaiʻi/SPC/CPAC• Sponsorship structure and policy established; Finance guidelines• Marketing strategy established•••Reiterate handshake agreements with ancillary venues and UH Mānoa; MOU discussions
in place
Aotearoa Tech Visit
Ongoing committee plans/meetings

2022 December• Relaunch 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, 6-16 June 2024
• Relaunch website, Social Media Strategy in place• PR distribution through SPC, Culture Talkers, NACF, WestAF, Meet Hawaiʻi, etc.
• Delegation dossier (binders) commenced in preparation for February SPC/CPAC Tech
visit
2023 Quarter 1• FestPAC village design and planning• Art/Creative: Opening/Closing ceremony design• Risk Management plan development• Festival communications – Monthly newsletters/bulletins, cultural focal points• SPC/CPAC Technical Visit• Delegation participation information incoming
2023 Quarter 2• 2nd draft of Head of Delegation dossier, Application forms• Detailed program set• Festival Venue Management and Operations guide• Move into main operations center (East West Center Hub)2023 Quarter 3• Merchandising, vendor applications• FestPAC programming set• 3rd draft of HOD dossier to delegations, all Festival application forms
2023 Quarter 4• Ceremonies and Protocol guidelines in place• Accreditation• Support Services (transportation, final accommodation agreements, Venue
development and preparation)
2024 Quarter 1• Final Program• Delegation technical requirements and dossier to delegations• Begin receiving FestPAC shipments (ʻaʻahu, instruments, art work, etc)
• Final Tech visit (per SPC/CPAC)•

Begin build out of Festival Village

2024 Quarter 2• Continued shipments• Final arrival and logistics details
2024 June• 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture