CORRECTED
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020, AT 8:30 A.M.
HAWAI‘I STATE CAPITOLSENATE CHAMBERS, CHAMBER LEVEL
415 S. BERETAINA STREETHONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96813
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Snowbird Bento
Mehanaokalā Hind
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Misty Kela‘iRichard Onishi
Randall Tanaka, thenDennis Ling-Senate President’s Designee
Community Member At-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
City & County of Honolulu Designee
House Speaker’s Designee
Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism (DBEDT) Designee

Jacob Aki
Maka Casson-Fisher
Alexis HouJames Huang
Melanie Ide
Jessica Kamalu
June MatsumotoMichelle Moore
Jay Rojas
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi
Kaiwi Yoon

-Senator English’s Office
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Taipei Economic and Culture and Arts (TECO)
Taipei Economic and Culture and Arts (TECO)
Bishop Museum
Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS)
Pacific Islands InstituteSenate Communications
PA‘I Foundation
Mayor’s Office of the Culture and Arts (MOCA)
Bishop Museum

Margaret Ahn-Attorney General’s Office

Guests:Staff:
Dennis Ling
Jamie Lum
Selma Malcolm (Recording) -DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT

Apologies:
Māpuana de Silva
Monte McComber-Community Member At-Large
Governor’s Designee

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 8:31 a.m., whowelcomed everyone present.
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 11 AND DECEMBER 19, 2019 MEETING MINUTES:
Minutes of the meetings held on December 11, 2019 and December 19, 2019, were approved
unamended on a motion by Representative Onishi and seconded by Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā.
Motion was passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. DBEDT Report:
PA‘I Foundation Contract Renegotiation:
Mr. Ling presented the financial report regarding FESTPAC finances as well as an invoicefrom PA‘I Foundation for administrative expenses for December 2019, for $15,243.99. He
requested approval on whether to reduce or continue paying the invoiced administrative
expenses (salaries, rent/overhead, insurance, etc.,) to PA‘I Foundation. Mr. Ling also statedthat other planned expenses through June or August 2020 will create a deficit of $28,009.25;
DBEDT has spent $258,000 on down payment for housing; payments related to the Council
on Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC) meetings; and payments for the website for July toOctober 2019, after the contract between PAʻI and Strategies 360 expired. Current balance is$582,880.73. Regarding the trust account, Mr. Ling advised the Commission that DBEDT
received a check from the PA‘I Foundation for $140,000. FESTPAC revenues currently total$2,270,000; balance is $694,871.48 which will go towards housing.
During discussion, Mr. Ling indicated that PA‘I Foundation’s contract expires inJune 2021. Ms. Bento inquired if the Commission to date, had an opportunity to promote theFestival in different communities’ free events; and that we should be pushing the Festivals inmany different avenues using social media; word-of-mouth, etc., to help promote it.
Ms. Kela‘i informed the Commission that the City and County of Honolulu has
Neighborhood Boards islandwide and that she and Ms. Takitani-Puahi will meet with theDirector of that particular department to request permission to distribute FESTPAC flyers atthe neighborhood board meetings. She suggested that Commission members attend thevarious neighborhood board meetings to promote the Festivals. Ms. Bento suggested that wecould also engage community businesses like hotels, etc. Mr. Tanaka then suggested that weneed an orchestrated marketing plan – when we will be on ʻŌlelo, the morning shows, etc.
He reminded the Commission that FESTPAC is only 16 weeks away, not including the monthof June.
Representative Onishi acknowledged that he is the newest member on this Commission,having been appointed just last year, but his frustration started even before the last Legislative
Session, regarding two (2) things:
1) The initial plan and budget that was brought to his office lacked specific details to beable to figure out what is the actual cost for the event. He attributes this to ourcontractor PA‘I Foundation for not laying out specifics in regard to what’s going to bedone and what is the cost.
2) Securing sponsorships and funding. Representative Onishi expressed frustration withthe lack of progress in this area. He believes the Contractor has not performed.
Representative Onishi compared the organization of the events for 75th Anniversary
Celebration of the end of World War II which is being run completely by volunteers. He saidat this point, they have a budget, they have planned out every day, and they know how they
are coordinating with the anniversary celebration being held in Washington DC in May 2020
and the events that will be held in Hawaiʻi in September 2020. He remarked that thecomparison is like night and day. He understands the funding needs of the WWII event, but
he still does not have a complete understanding of all the funding needs for FESTPAC.
He stated that the question about doing media and sponsorship has been brought up several
times and there have been no resolutions nor proposals from the Contractor indicating what
the Commission should act upon.
Chair English shared from his perspective and noted that like Representative Onishi, he too
has to report back to the Senate on FESTPAC. He also stressed his disappointment in theContractor. Chair English shared the sentiments of Representative Onishi that the Contractor
is not performing. The Commission is paying for work that is not getting done; we do nothave any plans, and there is nothing in place. The things that the Commission asked for havenot been developed, and the Commission is doing the work now. He also remarked that theywent from an oversight Commission to a working Commission and the things that have beenaccomplished were done by DBEDT and the Commission. Chair English questioned why theCommission/DBEDT are still paying a contractor if they are not performing and stated theCommission needs to review the contract.
A motion was made by Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded by Ms. Kela‘i that the Commission go
into an Executive Session to consult the Commission’s attorney pursuant to section 92-5(a)(4)of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.
Motion was passed unanimously.
The Executive Session was from 8:55 a.m. to 9:49 a.m.
Motion was made by Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded by Representative Onishi to exit theExecutive Session.
Motion was passed unanimously.
Randall Tanaka, DBEDT representative, left the meeting at 9:45 a.m.
In the open meeting, a motion was made by Mr. Ling, alternate DBEDT representative, and secondedby Representative Onishi to amend the PA‘I Foundation contract to pay for only Ms. Vicky Holt
Takamine, the Festival Director at the rate of $4,167 per month on a reimbursable basis. Allremaining funds will be expended at the direction of DBEDT, and the amended contract will include
the specific scope of work based upon the talents of Ms. Takamine including but not limited toserving as point of contact for programming as well as with the nations participating, communicatinginformation for the website and other duties as specified. The effective date is January 16, 2020 (dateof the meeting) and DBEDT will pay invoices based upon the previous reimbursement up to January
15, 2020.
Motion was passed unanimously.
Chair English informed the Commission that a representative of the Secretariat of the PacificCommunity (SPC) will be coming to Hawaiʻi during the week of January 19-26, 2020 and theCommission will address their concerns.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 8:30 a.m., at the Hawaiʻi State
Capitol, Senate Caucus Room, Chamber Level.
ADJOURNMENT:The Meeting was adjourned at 9:54 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,_________________________________
Senator J. Kalani English
Chair________________________
Date