MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022, AT 2:45 PM
EWC IMIN CENTER – JEFFERSON HALLSARIMANOK ROOM, 2ND FLOOR
1777 EAST-WEST ROAD
HONOLULU, HI 96848
THIS WAS A HYBRID MEETING AND WAS ALSO HELDVIA VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM:VIDEO / AUDIO CONFERENCE
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani KaʻanāʻanāSnowbird Bento
Māpuana de Silva
Sylvia Hussey
Jarrett Keohokālole
Jamie Lum
Richard Onishi
Kehaulani Puʻu
Guests:Maka Casson-Fisher
Hea-Emelie Katrawi
Monte McComber
Ngahiraka Mason
Tyler Mejia
Annie Reynolds
Aaron Salā
Makanani SalāKa‘iulani Spencer
Miles Young
Dr. Frances Koya-Vaka’uta
Sue Waive

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
Community Member At-Large Designee
Community Member At-Large Designee
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Designee
Senate President’s Designee
Department of Business, Economic Development andTourism (DBEDT) Designee- House Speaker’s Designee- City and County of Honolulu Designee-

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Goverment of New Caledonia
Commission Liaison to CPAC
Public Member
Hawaʻi Tourism Authority
Public Member
Festival Director
Public Member
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
The Pacific Community (SPC)
The Pacific Community (SPC)
Native Hawaiian Hospitality Assocation (Intern)Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 2:45pm
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Staff:
John Cole
Timothy Tiu
Scott Tome
Selma Malcol
Marlene Hiraoka-

Apologies:
Maenette Ah Nee-Benham- Governor’s Designee

Office of the Attorney General
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT

CALL TO ORDER
Prior to the meeting being called to order, Ms. de Silva presented the wehena (opening) andwelcomed members with an oli (chant) and hula (dance). Chair Kaʻanāʻanā also welcomed allpresent and online. He expressed his enthusiasm and appreciation to all for meeting in person.
He added that it has been a long journey, since 2016, that included many planning discussions
and now, Hawaiʻi has the honor of hosting FestPAC in 2024. Chair also acknowledged
Commissioners who were unable to join the meeting in person, but who were participating via
Zoom.
The next portion of the meeting included a cultural presentation. Ms. de Silva continued with thewehena by providing an oli which depicted welcoming, waiting for arrival, offering gifts, etc.
and greeting everyone with those intentions. She provided background of the second mele (song)which was about King David Kalākaua who was the first leader of any nation in the world tocircumnavigate the globe. He did it intentionally because he wanted Hawaiʻi to be recognized asa nation among nations of the world. The closing mele, was described as a prophecy chantwhich represented holding fast to things that still existed that initially came from kūpuna
(elders). She continued by expressing that it was important to not let go but to hold fast onto ourbeliefs because the preservation of culture, identity and language are all the intent of FestPAC.
Mr. Miles Young of The Pacific Community (SPC) acknowledged and thanked Ms. Silva for thepresentation. He expressed feeling privileged to be invited to meet with the Commission today
and to be welcomed in that way, rich in tradition and history. He also expressed appreciation to
Festival Director (FD) Salā for greeting their delegation with much hospitality. On behalf of the
SPC, he acknowledged and thanked everyone and offered a presentation of cultural items.
Dr. Frances Koya-Vaka’uta of the SPC shared that it was an honor and privilege to formallygather in Hawaiʻi. She continued by sharing that in Polynesia, with a history of ancestors,
represents over 20 nations and reminds us of where and who we are as Pacific Islanders of the
21st century. This includes the challenges we face in aspiring to be the ancestors that future
generations need us to be. She expressed that FestPAC is the platform for that - to connect,
reconnect, remember and resist many forces. She presented a biography of living things, abeautiful narrative that connects history – the one truth – one people – our legacy – our story.
Ms, Hea-Emelie Katrawi from the Government of New Caledonia also made a presention to the
Chair. FD Salā assisted in translating from French. She mentioned that they are interested inMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 2:45pm
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hosting FestPAC in 2028. Ms. Katrawi shared that she was proud to be attending theCommission meeting representing New Caledonia along with her colleagues and thanked theCommission for graciously hosting her.
Chair Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā officially called the meeting to order at 3:25 p.m. He welcomed allpresent and then conducted roll call of Commissioners: Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Ms. Bento, Ms.
Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Lum, Mr. Onishi, Ms. Puʻu. Ms. de Silva would be re joining themeeting again at a later time.
Chair began by explaining that agenda item #7, Presentation, Discussion and/or Action
Regarding the Festival Director’s Report, will be moved before agenda item #6, Presentation by
The Pacific Community (SPC).
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS FROM THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY (SPC) AND NEW
CALEDONIA
Chair introduced Mr. Miles Young, Director of Human Rights and Social Development, SPC;
Dr. Frances Koya-Vaka‘uta, Culture Lead, SPC; and Ms. Hea-Emelie Katrawi, Conseillere toMichael Forrest, Minister of Culture, Government of New Caledonia. He thanked guests forattending the meeting.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, he proceededwith the rest of the agenda items.
APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 17, 2022, YEAR MEETING MINUTESThe October 17, 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 Ms. Lum and seconded by Mr. Onishi. A roll call vote was requested
and the following Commissioners approving the motion to approve the minutes of October 17,
2022: Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Ms. Bento, Ms. Hussey, Mr. Keohokālole, Ms. Lum, Mr. Onishi, Ms.
Puʻu, approved the October 17, 2022, minutes unamended.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair reported that the Administrative Committee had a meeting, and the minutes will be
discussed later during the meeting in their agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR REPORT
Chair called upon FD Salā to present his report.
The FD reported that his trips to Samoa for FestPAC related business and to the Cook Islands for
the SPTO (The Pacific Tourism Organization) Summit were successful. He engaged in bilateralmeetings as well as individual meetings related to how countries could support our efforts.

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He was excited about how well received he was regarding the 13th FestPAC presentations andthe success of the bilateral meetings. He has not had an opportunity to present his meeting reportto the Administrative and Venues Committee, so he refrained from providing additional
information at that time.
He acknowledged and thanked Mr. Young and Dr. Koya-Vaka‘uta representing CROP (Regional
Organization of the Pacific) that serves as the custodial agent of FestPAC. He looks forward tolearning more from them about the Pacific Regional Culture Strategy.
The FD also acknowledged Ms. Hea-Emelie Katrawi representing the Minister of Culture of
New Caledonia. He was pleased that she was able to travel to Hawai‘i this week. It has been abusy week of site visits and meeting with key personnel. Site visits included the prospective
Festival Village, Bishop Museum, Hawai‘i Convention Center, Hawai‘i State Art Museum,
Kawaiahaʻo Church and continues through the weekend.
PRESENTATION BY THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY (SPC) REGARDING THE
HISTORY OF THE SPC, FestPAC AND THE PACIFIC REGIONAL CULTURESTRATEGY (PRCS) 2022-2032
Mr. Young shared a presentation which is included in the meeting materials and thanked theCommission again for the warm welcome. He and Ms. Koya-Vaka‘uta provided an overview
about the SPC community and its relationship to FestPAC.
The Pacific Community (SPC) is an inter-governmental organization that includes 22 PacificIsland countries and territories and five metropolitan countries including the United States,
France, United Kingdom, Australia and Autearoa (New Zealand). The SPC’s role is to support
members with technical assistance in relation to their development agenda such as climatechange, education, land resources, agriculture, fisheries, science, human rights division.
The SPC cultural programs fall under the Human Rights & Social Development (HRSD)
program. Key program areas are human rights, gender equality, social inclusion; the need tounderstand how cultures are part of and beyond being an enabler. It is a people-centeredapproach to science, research and technology. They see cultural considerations as integral totheir overall work.
Mr. Young acknowledged the work of the Commission, Ms. de Silva and Mr. Monte McComber
who have been instrumental with FestPAC. He also acknowledged the FD for his work, too. At
3:41pm Ms. de Silva returned back into the meeting.
Dr. Koya-Vaka‘uta mentioned that since the early conversations regarding the partnership with
the State of Hawaiʻi in hosting FestPAC, the SPC has undergone some changes. At the time, thefocus on culture was recognized as a regional development priority along with the festival. They
now see an expansion and relevance of the institutional region and recognizes the need torespond to the needs of member countries. SPC also acknowledge the importance of sustainable
development including climate change, trade, and commercial interests.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 2:45pm
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Currently, culture is guided by the development interests of member countries by identifying
ways to strengthen cultures. The SPC works with the Council for Regional Organizations in the
Pacific (CROP) and is comprised of a range of regional organizations that serve very specificdevelopment needs in the region.
The culture for development agenda cuts across the following areas: policy and regional
convenings, culture and creative industries which includes FestPAC, Pacific approaches andmethodologies, technical assistance, regional and international engagement.
The Pacific Regional Culture Strategy, 2022-2032, provides the umbrella of all programs andprovides a regional framework. The primary focus, after 2020, was to look at an inclusive
approach in the culture sector. The development of the strategy began in 2017. Through Covid,
the conversations continued in the development of the strategy in its current form. During theearly working group meetings, the region wanted to see a policy document that “looks and tastes
and feels like them.”
Dr. Koya-Vaka’uta commented that Pacific people see the world differently. She presented avisual framework and noted that the Pacific approach encompasses who they are. The
Melanesian long distance sailing vessel (double hull) express in the logo, represented who they
represent. The Council agreed that the Hawaiian Star Compass was symbolic of charting theirdestination and priorities. Lastly, the SPC developed the relevant framework which was guided
by the Marshallese navigational stick chart which is different from reading the stars.
There are five key priority areas in the Pacific Regional Culture Strategy: Cultural Policy,
Cultural Heritage, Cultural Wellbeing, Cultural Innovation and Cultural Statistics. The first andlast priorities have been highlighted as critical. They are looking at ways to strengthen at thenational and regional levels.
FestPAC (1972 – 2022): SPC acts as custodian to both the festival and the Regional Culture
Strategy. Custodial is an important word that captures and recognizes the responsibility ofservice. It is important to provide information that can be used for evidence-based decisions.
They would like everyone to be informed and responsible for their own successes.
The first FestPAC was held in 1972 in Fiji. The idea was floated by the Fiji Arts Council to The
South Pacific Commission (now known as the SPC). During the early days, SPC was known forrunning regional workshops. The conversation was around decolonization. The festival was thesite for resilience, safeguarding, revitalization and celebration. Many see it as just a festival andthe spirit is lost when we use the word “festival.” There have been 12 Fesitval of Pacific Arts
and Culture that have taken place to date. It has been hosted on a rotational basis.
Traditionally, it has been a two week-long festival with a wide range of scope of events,
including contemporary presentations, too. The decision of programming rests with the hostcountry. SPC respects and values the opportunity for the host country to take ownership of thefestival. The size of the festival is secondary and is programmed and funded by the host country.
SPC provides technical support in relation to governance and delivery.

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An evaluation report from 2010 was developed. There is a need to look at three perspectives forthe future: the perspective of the host country, of visitors and the perspective of participating
countries. These perspectives together allow us to come together as community/family.
SPC commissioned a FestPAC review report that was completed in 2021. The report reaffirmed
the Council’s beliefs and validated some of the initial thoughts on how the festival could be
strengthened. There are six categories of recommendations: (1) Visibility and Value of
FestPAC – it is the largest gathering of indigenous people and a need to identify new ways toarticulate the value of the festival; (2) Strengthening of Governance/Guiding Documents; (3)Sustainable Funding – there are fewer pools of funding that is dedicated to culture; (4) Equitable
opportunity to host FestPAC – giving smaller countries the opportunity to co-host; (5) Festival
Desk/Dedicated Unit at SPC and (6) FestPAC Legacy Program.
SPC provides support to the host country through a collaborative approach. In no way do theywant to be seen as policing the host country but rather working together toward a shared goal.
SPC’s support occurs from pre-festival planning and continues during the festival. SPC serves
as an intermediary between CPAC and the host country.
At the moment, there are four key pressing issues with regard to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts
and Culture:- The need to complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes therelationship between SPC and the host country to firm up the relationship between the
Hawai‘i Commission and the SPC.
- The invitations to be sent to countries from the host country. Because countries operateon different funding cycles, they need to request for funding before beginning to put aplan together.
- The need to communicate biosecurity issues early.
- The need to share information regarding Visas– smaller countries need to travel to otherlocations to obtain visas. Many members will need to transit between countries that
could take time. There are logistical and financial considerations to think about during
this process.
Chair asked Commissioners if there were any questions.
Ms. Hussey thanked the SPC for presenting a comprehensive summary of the history andimportance of the festival.
Mr. Keohokālole also thanked the SPC representatives for the presentation. He relayed his
gratitude for the presentation and for their participation today. He is honored to be part of thisCommission and honored as a Hawaiian especially because of challenges from the past three
years. He expressed his gratitude for their presentation and engagement.
Chair also added his thanks as well. He assured them that they have our commitment especiallyregarding the pressing items such as sending invitations to countries. He thanked them for theMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
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reminder on remembering the “why” of the festival. He encouraged members to focus on theimportance of the festival which will be a bright star of opportunity for the future.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā reported on the permitted interaction of the Administrative Committee (AC).
He reported that the AC met on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Meeting participants included Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Mr. Keohokālole, FD Salā, Ms. Ah NeeBenham and Ms. Sanders of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA). They
discussed matters related to the fiscal agent/sponsor, the FD’s contract, fund development
activities, staffing, etc. and will cover it in more detail at the next scheduled Commission
meeting.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair invited the public to again offer comments. Hearing none, he moved into announcements.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FD acknowledged the East-West Center for allowing the Commission to use the conference
room today.
Ms. de Silva shared a mahalo (gratitude) to guests for attending today’s meeting and further
shared that their presence recognizes that Hawai‘i is a partner and brings to the forefront how
important the festival is.
NEXT MEETING DECEMBER 5, 2022
The next FestPAC Commission meeting will be held, via Zoom, on December 5, 2022
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Ka‘anā‘anā adjourned meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,_______________________________
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair

December 2, 2022
Date