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

Rep. Richard Onishi-

Elise Amemiya
Maka Casson-Fisher
Bonita Chang-

Office of the Attorney General
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
Compliance Director, Hawaiʻi State Ethics
Commission

Aaron J. Salā
Paula Akana
Margo Vitarelli-Festival Director, Gravitas Pasifika
Executive Director, The Friends of ʻIolani Palace
Education Director, Manoa Heritage Center-

Governor’s Designee

Staff:

Guests:Apologies:
Makana McClellan

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
City & County of Honolulu
Community
Community
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism (DBEDT)
Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā (Chair) at 3:02pm, who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.
WEHENA
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā called upon Commissioner Lum to give the wehena (opening), who theninvited guest speaker Paula Akana to present to the commission. Akana described the Festival ofPacific Arts and Culture to be a dream come true for King Kalākaua of the Royal Hawaiian
Kingdom. Throughout his reign, Kalākaua had intended to form a unified pacific federation.

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During the Meiji era he proclaimed this intent to the emperor of Japan, to which the emperor
declined his request. At this time, Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaiʻi were the only pacific nations not
occupied by another nation. At the time, John Bush, envoy to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi proposed
to Maleitoa of Samoa, a treaty of confederacy, to which the document was signed. Unfortunately,as the Bayonet Constitution took away the power of Kalākaua and this could not proceed. But
Kalākaua did found the Royal Order of Oceania in December of 1886. An exhibition on thisOrder will be shown at ‘Iolani Palace during the FestPAC event. Akana expressed this festival
would be Hawai’i’s chance to be the “Kalākaua” of our people. In her words, “You are making aking’s dream into reality.”
ATTENDANCE
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā and Commissioners Bento, de Silva, Ferreira, Keohokālole, Lum, McClellan,
and Onishi were present. Comissioners Asher and Ferreira arrived late. Commissioner McClellan
was excused prior. Staff Member Casson-Fisher, Festival Director Aaron Salā, and Deputy AG
Elise Amemiya, were also present via Zoom.
PRESENTATION BY ETHICS COMMISSION – REFRESHER ON GIFTS TO THE
FESTPAC COMMISSION
The entire commission has completed their ethics training courses. Compliance director Bonita
Chang hosted a presentation to the commission regarding gift gestures to commission members.
The gifts law, covered by HRS (Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes) 84-11, is to prevent the appearance ofbeing improperly influenced. The general rule is not to accept any gift if there is a reasonable
inference that the gift being offered is to influence or reward any official actions. Gifts can
include food, travel, invitations to fundraisers, receptions, social events, gift certificates, etc.
The commission generally conducts its analysis of the guest law using a 3-factor test. The first
factor is what the relationship between the recipient, and the agency/donor. The second is what
the value of the item is. Technically, the law does not have a dollar value, but this is evaluatedand factored by ethics analysts. The third factor is considering whether or not the gift would be
beneficial to the state. “If you are in a regulatory or inspection kind of realm or procurement,
meaning a vendor or a law enforcement or lobbying relationship, these are kind of situations
where there's more of an imbalance and power that [...] in these kind of situations, we would
recommend not accepting any gifts because of the power and role that you have,” Chang stated.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited public members attending the ZOOM call to testify on any agenda
items. Hearing and seeing none, Chair proceeded to the next agenda item.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair noted neither an Admin or Venue Committee meeting took place between commission
meetings. Hearing and seeing no further permitted interactions from the commission, Chair
continued to the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 29th, 2024 MEETING MINUTES

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The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by Commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the April 29th, 2024 minutes. Chair took a roll call vote to adopt theminutes. Commissioners Asher, Bento, de Silva, Ferreira, Keohokālole, Lum, and Onishi voted
in favor of adopting the minutes unamended for the April 29th 2024 meeting.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Festival Director (FD) Salā presented updates on programming, followed by operations
marketing, promotions, and community engagements.
Programming
The ecumenical service was rescheduled from the morning of Sunday, June 9 2024 to
1:00pm to 2:30pm. The reason for this is after several discussions with
PAPAMAKUA(?) and the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches, and Kahu
Kenneth Makuakāne of Kawaiahao Church, they wished to allow congregations to attend
their “home” churches in the morning, then transition to the ecumenical service in theafternoon for Kawaiahao’s traditional Ali'i Sunday celebration.
The performing arts festival schedule being published should allow for members of the
public and delegations to prepare for festival events and activities. A daily schedule ofeach particular venue and the countries that will perform are detailed online. Kualoabased programs following the waʻa arrival ceremony has additionally been madeavailable for those participating. Further, wood carving and tatau (traditional tattoo)
practices have also been shared online with details on health, contemporary, andtraditional styles of tatau.
Traditional Leaders Summit (TLS): During its developmental stages, TLS was previously
considered to be extended to traditional leaders outside of country delegations. This,
however, was reconsidered due to how the personnel of a country’s delegation would be
fetted by the other countries within the council that may view the gesture as
acknowledging traditional leaders that aren’t officially recognized. FD then recognized
OHA Chair Carmen Hulu Lindsay and Commissioner Ferreira for the work OHA has
contributed to this engagement.
Wednesday, 05 June -Governors’ Reception
Thursday, 06 June: -Traditional Leaders AHAAWA-Wehena – Opening Ceremony
Friday, 07 June:-Royal Mausoleum at Mauna’ala-Traditional Leaders Talanoa Session #1 (HCC)-Kamehameha Lei Draping Ceremony
Saturday, 08 June
-Traditional Leaders Talanoa Session #2 (HCC)
Sunday, 09 June
-Ecumenical Service Traditional Leaders Reception
Monday, 10 June
-Traditional Leaders Talanoa Session #3 (HCC)
Tuesday, 11 June
-Traditional Leaders Talanoa Session #4
Sunday, 16 June
-Panina – Closing Ceremony
Young Pacific Leaders Program: This is a partnership between the US Embassy of New
Zealand and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation for young adults between the ages of 18 to
35 in international diplomacy, cultural practice, and creative industries.
Tuesday, 04 June:-Orientation

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Wednesday, 05 June: -Wa'a Arrival Ceremony-Governor’s Reception
Thursday, 06 June: -HUAKAʻI: Plant-Based Solutions at Papahana Kualoa-Wehena – Opening Ceremony
Friday, 07 June:-Festival Village Opening-WORK SESSION #1 Design Thinking Workship:
Foundation and Ideation-Windward Mall Visit
Saturday, 08 June:-WORK SESSION #2 Design Thinking Workshop:
Mechanics of Design Thinking-Evening Reception-SALT Kaka’ako Night Market Visit
Sunday, 09 June:-Ecumenical Service-HO‛IKE: Delegation Lūʻau
Monday, 10 June:-Symposia with U.S. Embassy of New Zealand-Working Session with YPL Alumni-Evening Reception with YPL Alumni
Tuesday, 11 June:-Matariki Celebration
Wednesday, 12 June: -WORK SESSION #3: Design Thinking Workshop:
Creative Solutions Bootcamp-HUAKAʻI Hawaiʻi Island with National Oceanic
Atmospheric Administration Visit
Thursday, 13 June: -HUAKAʻI: Travel to Lahaina, Maui with UH Maui
College and Community Partners Visit
Friday, 14 June:-HUAKAʻI: NOAA Visit
Saturday, 15 June:-Design Thinking HO‛IKE (Presentation Day)
-Evening Reception
Sunday, 16 June:-Panina – Closing CeremonyWaʻa Arrival Ceremony (Wednesday, 05 June): FD made note that that the waʻa has justleft from the Cook Islands for travel to the Marine Education Training Center of O‘ahu(METC). Countries are not required to bring a pohaku of any sort to participate in thewaʻa arrival ceremonies. The total arrivals of waʻa are anticipated to take two hours,
presuming weather conditions are favorable.
5:00am-Delegates and VIPs depart from accomodations
6:00am-Delegates and VIPs on waʻa arrive at Mokapu to travel acrossKaneohe bay, into Hakipuu.
6:30am-Delegates/VIPs begin boarding waʻa
7:00am-Waʻa depart their moorings/docks-Delegates arrive to Kualoa Regional Park
8:00am-Waʻa arrival – Hakipuʻu ʻOhana/ ʻOhana Waʻa Pū-Waʻa arrival to shore-Hoʻokupu Presentation
10:30am-Procession to the Ahu
11:00am-Ahu Protocol-Pū/OliMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
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12:30pm
2:00pm-Welcome Speech: Hakipuʻu Ohana-Speaker: Nainoa Thompson-Kākua Ceremony (Performed by the Hakipuʻu ʻOhana-Speaker: FestPAC Representative (Pending: Chair Kaʻanāʻanā or
Senator Keohokālole)-Key Note: Nainoa Thompson-ʻOli Kuamoʻo – Iwi o Kuʻu Iwi-Pu-ʻAina Awakea (Lūʻau Luncheon)-Guest departures begin

Operations
Accommodations and Transportation: Delegation room assignments have been received
for UH housing and hotel industry partners. FD shared his team has received room
assignments for 22 of 28 countries. Vanuatu has officially removed itself from FestPAC
participation. FD then acknowledged Andrew and June Lockwood and their team withPacific Islands Institute (PII) for their assistance with these matters.
Regarding VIP Room Assignments, 25 of 28 countries have provided their VIP room
assignments, with PII working through the details of their accommodations.
Regarding transportation, daily shuttles have been assigned to primary venues, withscheduled buses for satellite venues (delegates), and assigned cars for Head of Delegation(HOD)/VIPs.
On Event Production, FD shared immersive experience content is in-development with
Architects Hawaiʻi Limited (AHL) on O‘ahu and Fuzz Box on Maui, withacknowledgment to Events International for their contributions to the upcoming event.
Festival Member Credentialing:
Tiers: Delegate (Standard/VIP), Management (All
Access/Staff/Volunteer), Media (1,2,3)Badges: Photo, Name, Affiliation, Phone, E-Mail, Color Code,
Designation Letter, DataHouse QR Code System
Media Hub: Patty Look, Events International, and AHL are assisting with sponsorshipsignage to make sure all contributors are appropriately noted The buildout of the Media
Hub is still in process, with details presented to the commission from FD upon final
approval.
Security & Protocol: The VIP list has been updated to 150+ personnel across all
countries, with two VIP rooms, and two VIP cars per country. Diplomatic notes toengage with the US for VIPs are pending on the procurement of security and protocol
levels, with discussions with the consul general’s office ongoing as the festival
approaches.
FD suggested due to the amount of information needing to be relayed, weekly meetings would be
preferred to stay better updated. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assessments for large
events has been completed. Per their suggestion, the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
is pending a request for the temporary closure of Kualoa Regional Park for the waʻa arrival
ceremony. Venue layouts for HPD are additionally pending.

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Regarding marketing and promotional updates, a Star Advertiser special insert booklet is going
to be included in the Sunday edition on 02 June. This will be the only hard copy of festival
program brochure, keeping in-line with the festival’s environmentally sustainable approach.
Event streaming has been awarded to Hawaiʻi News Now based on Chair’s directive to live
stream each of the main events. Press releases on venues, expos, volunteers have been made.
“Save-the-date" have been sent to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, Honolulu City Council, Officeof Hawaiian Affairs. Media registration for the festival can be accessed via the online
registration portal.
On community engagements, the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA) volunteer
trainings have been scheduled for May 18th from 9:00am to 12:00pm, and May 25th from 9:00am
to 12:00pm. The Lālākea foundation will be hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, withrehearsals on May 17th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, May 18th from 8:00am to 4:00pm, and May
19th from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Community town halls will be hosted for local engagements, aswell as our consular corps to further assist with event promotion.
Commissioner Bento asked of FD Sala if the Matariki Celebration for the Young Pacific Leaders
program was requested through Tuheitia’s contingent, to which FD responded that this was apartnership between Kīngi Tūheitia and Kīngitanga staff. Senator Keohokālole concurred that thedecision to bring the festival to Windward Mall- noting its dense Native Hawaiian and pasifika
entities being most accessible to the Koʻolauloa community.
Keohokālole then expressed on the topic of diplomatic notes as a preface for security, a robust
conversation with the federal government took place last year on the topic of the boundaries of
responsibility and jurisdiction on the matter of security for national dignitaries visiting fromother countries. He inquired as to what form of security will be provided for VIPs joining us. FD
Sala then responded, the VIP list is a secure but shared document amongst internal parties for thefestival providers, and the head of security and protocol working group, on behalf of the stateand homeland security, and the SPC. That the mechanism to activate the United States fordignitaries is a diplomatic note. According to the said list, organizers are aware of the kind of
security and protocol that is needed. FD Sala then expressed he is continuing to work with theWhite House to increase the attention according to the special events assessment rating, elevating
to level “3.” FD then shared he is confident this list will help to increase that to engage
heightened security and protocol, and he would keep the commission apprised of updates with apresentation to the commission on this topic. Keohokālole then expressed if a delegation were to
bring Alii, then they would need to be accorded due respect, protocol, and security. And that if
the federal government would not afford that to them, that that would be the commission’s
responsibility.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā then asked what the status was on the Stan Sherriff contract, to which FD Sala
responded that the METC, Festival, and Housing requests have been put into a single agreement,with the METC request recently approved by Chancellor Lee. The topic of parking at UH-basedvenues will be followed-up by Commissioner Lum, that will bring a UH-representative to attend
future commission meetings.
Guest Margo Vitarelli had an inquiry regarding VIP transportation as she had just returned froma trip to Palau. Their leaders asked if a driver would be designated, and if they would have thesame driver every day to assist them about traversing O‘ahu. FD Sala responded that their headof delegation would need to submit that question to himself in order to provide timely andaccurate information.

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PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair deferred the agenda item as there was no meeting of the administrative committee.
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.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND/OR ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF
KAMANAʻOPONO CRABBE AS HEAD OF DELEGATION – HAWAIʻI
Commissioner de Silva spoke to the challenges and obligations of representing the head of adelegation group, and expressed Kamanaʻopono Crabbe as being the right choice for this
responsibility. She shared that it would be a much more streamlined process to stay on top ofdelegation tasks digitally in 2024 as she had previously sent out communications to overseas
entities via snail mail. Chair entertained a motion, moved by Commissioner Keohokālole,seconded by Commissioner Bento. Upon roll call vote, Commissioners Asher, Bento, de Silva,
Ferreira, Keohokālole, Lum, and Onishi voted in favor of approval.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND/OR ACTION ON THE DISPOSITION OF
COPYRIGHT OF THE 13th FESTPAC BROADCAST
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā provided a brief description of the agenda item as it pertained to complexitiesof owning rights to FestPAC’s media content. The commission had received a request from the
SPC that they would be provided the copyright to the festival broadcast. The SPC has articulated
that they would like to own that copyright and would become the custodians of that copyright.
That they would decide whom they would release licensing usage to of the festival broadcast in
the future. Chair stated things to consider were if Hawaiʻi as host would like to transfer theserights to the SPC after the festival, and in the instance that this occurs, if there were any criteriathat would need to be added to this transfer. FD Sala responded that this would need to be further
discussed, as this copyright does not yet exist. That this would be a discussion the commission iscommitted to having. Commissioner Keohokāhole suggested this topic be moved to theadministrative committee. Commissioner de Silva added that copyright issues were a big topic ofconversation for each of the festivals she had previously attended. She continued, the SPC had
organized a hired a company since the last festival to make recommendations to the SPC
regarding FestPAC. Part of the recommendations made post-evaluation was to see if the SPC
could house all the contents of the Festival, and to be able to own those copyrights. Hawaiʻi
would be the first delegation challenged with this. De Silva concluded that the commission
should not agree too quickly, that there are other areas that need prioritizing, and that this could
be discussed even after the festival is done. Chair concluded this agenda item for later discussion
among the administrative committee, noting to FD Sala that in agreements with Hawaiʻi NewsNow and photographer entities would need to be notified that a transfer of ownership may occur.
He then added that Hawaiʻi, with the support of its community, partners, and major sponsors, isshouldering the entirety of this cost, and no funds have been provided by the SPC in support ofthe broadcast, or documenting.

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Monday, May 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited public testimony. Hearing and seeing none, Chair proceeded to thenext agenda item.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 20th 2024 at 3:00pm via
Zoom, with wehena (opening) by Chair Kaʻanāʻanā

Hearing no further announcements, the Chair asked for unanimous consent to adjourn themeeting, at 4:26PM
Respectfully Submitted,

Jun 7, 2024

Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair

Date