DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETINGWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018, AT 10:00 A.M.
HAWAI‘I CONVENTION CENTER
1801 KALĀKAUA AVE., BOARD ROOM AHONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96815

Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Kamana‘opono Crabbe
Lynn Decoite
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anāMisty Kela‘i
Dennis Ling
Monte McComber-Senate President’s Designee
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
House Speaker’s Designee
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
City & County of Honolulu Designee
DBEDT’s Designee
Governor’s Designee

Jacob Aki
Rebecca Crall
James Huang
Michi Moore
Michael Pili Pang

-Senator English’s Office
Representative DeCoite’s OfficeTaiwan Economic & Cultural Office (TECO)
Senate Communications
PA‘I Foundation

Guests:Staff:Margaret Ahn
Jamie Lum
Selma Malcolm (Recording) -Deputy Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT

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

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, at
10:07 a.m., who welcomed everyone present.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, August 15, 2018, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 2 of 4

APPROVAL OF JULY 18, 2018 MEETING MINUTES:
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, were approved on a motion byMr. Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā and seconded Ms. Misty Kela‘i.
The motion was passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Regarding the informal discussion with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at theJuly 18, 2018, meeting; Chair English will prepare a special report based on the information
received from CBP to be placed on a future agenda for discussion/decision making/ and/orrecommendation.
Festival Director’s Report
In the absence of Ms. Vicky Takamine, Mr. Michael Pili Pang of PA‘I Foundation, presented
the Director’s Report. He reported the following:
A. Follow-up on Draft Resolution Supporting FESTAC to present to the University ofHawaiʽi Board of Regents:
The Commission reviewed the draft resolution and accepted the changes proposed byMs. Margaret Ahn, Deputy Attorney General. The resolution will be finalized andpresented to the Chair of the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents for approval bytheir Board.
B. Update on FESTPAC Fundraising Efforts, Budget, Venues, Events, Logistics, PublicRelations, Website, Social Media and other Online Presence:
Fundraising: An application is being submitted to the National Endowment for the Arts(NEA) Our Town Grant for $200,000 (matching) for the Festival Village. The due dateis August 21, 2018.
Chair English strongly suggested that PAʽI Foundation arrange a meeting with Beth Lum,
who was a major fundraiser for IUCN and is willing to assist with our fundraising.
Further contacts were made with several organizations/individuals including the Mayor,City & County of Honolulu; Office of Hawaiian Affairs (Kamanaʽopono Crabbe/CEO);
Kamehameha Schools (Kauʽi Burgess, Randie & Jamie Fong); John Burns School ofMedicine (Keaweʽaimoku Kaholokula) and the Royal Hawaiian Center (MonteMcComber/Aaron Sala) requesting letter of commitment/support regarding FESTPAC.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, August 15, 2018, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 3 of 4

Financial Statement between July 1- 31, 2018: The total Expenses incurred by PA‘I
Foundation was $8,256 (Salaries - $8,250 and Program Expenses - $6.00). During that
period, $266.47 was incorrectly reimbursed to PA‘I in check #1000. That amount wasdeducted from check #1001.
Bank statements from May 31 to July 31, 2018, for the checking and Certificate ofDeposit (CD) accounts were reviewed. The CD for $25,000 matured August 23, 2018,with an automatic renewal of 0.45 percent earning at maturity of $28.36 rolled into theaccount balance.
Follow-up meetings were held with Mokauea Fishing Association, Mokauea Fishing
Village regarding the arrival/storage of the canoes, etc.
Public Relations: Mr. Pili Pang stated that PAʽI Foundation is currently working withthe Jacobe Group and is in the process of formalizing a proposal. Chair English was not
impressed with the quality of the proposal submitted. He suggested that PAʽI Foundation
issue a request for proposals from other public relations companies/groups.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā offered to share the HTA’s RFP with PAʽI Foundation so that somesimilar language could possibly be included in the RFP. He stated that part of HTA’srole is to leverage FESTPAC as a way to attract visitors, so it seems to make sense toinclude some of the same language from HTA’s RFP in the FESTPAC RFP.
Discussion re Website, Social Media and other Online Presence: Chair English
stressed the importance and the urgency of FESTPAC having its own dedicated website.
He stated that several members (including himself) have been receiving inquiries frompeople in the Pacific and other regions requesting information on FESTPAC.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā noted that HTA is promoting the Festival through its network and it isdifficult to explain to the wholesalers, etc., how to access FESTPAC information throughPAʽI Foundation’s website. The sooner we can get our own dedicated website, the fasterwe can build attendance. Although we are about 18 months out, not having the social
media ready to go will make it difficult to secure sponsors for the Festivals. The primary
mission of the Commission is fundraising, and if we do not have that, we cannot drive
home the sponsorships either. Chair English strongly urged PAʽI to expedite the website
as the social media and other online presence are very important.
NEW BUSINESS:
Selection of Another Commission Member to Chair the September Meeting in Chair
English’s Absence:
Motion was made by Rep. Lynn DeCoite and seconded by Mr. Monte McComber to selectMr. Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā to chair the September 12, 2018, meeting in the absence ofChair English.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, August 15, 2018, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 4 of 4The motion was passed unanimously.
SB 2693 relating to FESTPAC: Mr. Ling reported that DBEDT submitted the request for
the Governor’s approval to release the funds.
Motion was made by Rep. Lynn DeCoite and seconded by Mr. Dennis Ling that of the$950,000, the Governor will withhold $95,000, the Commission will hold $100,000 for
administrative expenses and an audit of the Festival upon completion, and the remainder will
go to the contractor.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Chair English thanked everyone for attending the meeting, especially Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā forhosting.
NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, at 10:00 a.m., at the HawaiʻiConvention Center.
ADJOURNMENT:The meeting adjourned at 10:24 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,

9/7/2018_______________________________________
Senator J. Kalani English
Chair________________________
Date