Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC)
MEETING
Commission on the 13th
Festival of Pacific Arts &CultureChair
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority

Monday, September 25, 2023
11:30 a.m.
This meeting will be via teleconference as authorized by and in accordancewith the requirements of Act 220 (SLH 2021).

Commissioners
Shanty Asher
City & County of Honolulu
Snowbird Bento
Community

Meeting will be live streaming via ZOOM
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83149917038

Sen. Jarrett Keohokālole
Hawaiʻi State Senate

You may be asked to enter your name. The commission requests that you
enter your full name, but you may use a pseudonym or other identifier if you
wish to remain anonymous. You may also be asked for an email address.
You may fill in this field with any entry in an email format, e.g.,*****@***mail.com.

Colin Kippen
Office of Hawaiian Affairs

See page 2 for more information on connecting via Zoom or phone.

Jamie Lum
Dept. Of Business, Economic
Development & Tourism

Materials for this agenda and minutes of this meeting will be available at:Māpuana de Silva
Community

https://invest.hawaii.gov/international/festival-of-pacific-arts-culture-festpac/

Makana McClellan
Governor’s Designee
Rep. Richard Onishi
Hawai‘i State House ofRepresentatives
Mail:
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, 1st Floor
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
festpachawaii.org
festpachawaii

AGENDAI.

Call to OrderII.

WehenaIII.

Public Testimony on Agenda Items

IV.

Report on Permitted Interactions, pursuant to Act 103, Session Laws
of Hawaiʻi 2021

V.

Approval September 11, 2023 Meeting Minutes

VI.

Presentation, Discussion and/or Action Regarding the Festival
Director ReportVII.

Presentation, Discussion and/or Action Regarding Administrative
Committee Update

VIII.

Presentation, Discussion and/or Action Regarding Venues andProgramming Committee Update

IX.

Public Testimony on Agenda Items

X.

Announcements

XI.

Next Meeting – October 9, 2023

XII.

Adjournment

Members of the public who attend the meeting in-person are encouraged to wear masks;
however, it is not required. Masks are to be provided if requested.
Venue Location for those attending the in-person meeting:
Hawaiʻi Convention Center
1801 Kalākaua Avenue
1st Level / HTA Conference Room
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Parking: Public parking is available at Hawaiʻi Convention Center (entrance on Kalākaua
Avenue) and will be validated.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact Irina
De La Torre at (808) 973-2274 or email idelatorre@gohta.net as soon as possible, preferablyby two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Requests made as early as possible have agreater likelihood of being fulfilled.
Upon request, this notice is available in alternate/accessible formats.
Members of the public may submit written testimony via e-mail to idelatorre@gohta.net, or
via fax to (808) 973-2253, or via postal mail:
FestPAC Testimony
c/o Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, 1st Floor
Honolulu, HI 96815
Please include the word “testimony” and the subject matter following the address line.
For Public Internet access: You will be asked to enter your name in order to access themeeting as an attendee. The Commission requests that you enter your full name, but you may
use a pseudonym or other identifier if you wish to remain anonymous. You will be asked foran email address. You may fill in this field with an entry in an email format, e.g.,***@**mail.com. As an attendee, your microphone will be automatically muted during themeeting unless you are providing testimony. The Chair will call for public testimony during
the meeting.
For Public Phone access: You may get audio-only access by calling the Zoom Phone Number
listed on the confirmation email. Upon dialing the number, you will be prompted to enter the
Meeting ID which is also listed at the top of the agenda. After entering the Meeting ID, wait tobe admitted into the meeting. When the Chair asks for public testimony, you may indicate youwant to testify by entering “*” and then “9” on your phone’s keypad. After entering “*” andthen “9”, a voice prompt will let you know that the host of the meeting has been notified.
When recognized by the Chair, you may unmute yourself by pressing “*” and then “6” onyour phone. A voice prompt will let you know that you are unmuted. Once you are finishedspeaking, please enter “*” and then “6” again to mute yourself.
For both internet and phone access, when testifying, you will be asked to identify yourself andthe organization, if any, that you represent. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may state
this.

MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 AT 3:00 P.M.
VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, Chair
Shanty Asher
Māpuana de Silva
Colin Kippen
Jamie Lum-

Rep. Richard Onishi-

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
City & County of Honolulu
Community Member At-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Department of Business, Economic Development
and Tourism (DBEDT)
Hawai‘i State House of Representatives

Aaron Salā
Letila Mitchell-Festival Director
SPC

Elise Amemiya
Micah ʻĀkau
Maka Casson-Fisher
Irina De La Torre-

Office of the Attorney General
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority-

Community
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Governor’s Designee

Guests:Staff:

Apologies:
Snowbird Bento
Sen. Jarrett Keohokāhole
Makana McClellan

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā at 3:01 p.m., who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 2 of 6

Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā introduced Festival Director Aaron J. Salā to give the wehena or
opening for the meeting. He sang the song Pua Mana in honor of Lahaina and September 11th.
Chair wanted to echo the sentiments of the song for those who have been lost over the years.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā conducted the roll-call attendance. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner Asher,
Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva, Commissioner Keohokālole, Commissioner
Kippen, Commissioner Lum,and Commissioner McClellan Commissioner Onishi were present
via Zoom and alone.
Also in attendance were Deputy Attorney General Elise Amemiya, Festival Director (FD) Aaron
Salā, as well as HTA support staff: Micah ʻĀkau, Maka Casson-Fisher and Irina De La Torre.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSNo testimony was received in advance of the day’s meeting. The chair invited members of the
public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, he continued with agenda items.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Hearing no additional meetings, the Chair continued with the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 MEETING MINUTES
It was moved by Commissioner Onishi and Seconded by Commissioner Lum to accept theAugust 7, 2023 minutes unamended. Chair Bento suggested a few non substantive edits,
proposals instead of prosalas, also editing the name to FestPAC 2024 instead of FestPAC andthen on page five, an update to reflect the correct conversation that was had on waʻa location.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā conducted a roll-call vote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner Asher,
Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva, Commissioner Keohokālole, Commissioner
Kippen, Commissioner Lum, Commissioner McClellan, and Commissioner Onishi in favor of
approving the amended minutes of the August 7th, 2023 meeting. Motion passed.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING COMMISSIONCOMMITTEE COMPOSITIONS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā provided context to this agenda item, considering that Commissioner Lum as
our DBEDT Commissioner, as the entity with the contract for the Festival Provider, should be
moved over to the Admin committee but currently was the chair for the Venues & Program
Committee. Chair asked for a motion to move Chair Lum from the Programming Committee tothe Admin Committee and reconstitue the Admin Committee to be: Chair Kaʻanāʻanā,
Commissioner Lum, Commissioner Keohokālole Commissioner Kippen and theProgramming/Venues Committee would be Commissioner Asher, Commissioner Bento,
Commissioner de Silva and Commissioner Onishi.
Commissioner Keohokālole asked for a clarification of the Admin Committee and asking Chair
if Commissioner McClellan is also on the Admin Committee, which he replied yes to adding her

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 3 of 6

to the Admin Committee, then moved by Commissioner Keohokālole and seconded byCommissioner de Silva.
Commissioner Lum reminds the commission that each committee should have fourcommissioners total and Chair Kaʻanāʻanā nominates himself to leave the Admin committee.
Chair as a friendly admendment to the motion announces that the Admin committee would be
the following: Commissioner Keohokālole, Commissioner Kippen, Commissioner Lum , andCommissioner McClellan.
Chair then reminds everyone that Programming/Venues Committee would be the following:
Commissioner Asher, Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva and Commissioner Onishi.
Chair asks for questions or comments, hearning none he calls for the vote.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner Asher, Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva,
Commissioner Keohokālole, Commissioner Kippen, Commissioner Lum, Commissioner
McClellan, and Commissioner Onishi vote in favor of approving the ammended motion of thetwo commitee compositions.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR REPORT
Festival Director Salā begins with a summary of the topics he will go over: Head of Delegation
Dossier, Delegation Breakdown, Strategies for Communications and Fund Development,
Operations Updates for Logistics and Venues, Program Updates, and Committee Meetings &Reports.
The first draft of the Head of Delegation Dossier was presented June 24, 2023 in preparation for
the New Caledonia CPAC Meeting in June 2023. The Dossier is meant to be updated each monthfor the countries to receive. The dossier is in the supplemental documents for the Chair. The
September update has been reviewed with Commission Chair Kaʻanāʻanā and CPAC Chair deSilva on September 2 and will be forwarded to the SPC immediately after this meeting.
1,157 delegates are currently confirmed with a handful of countries still waiting for theirdelegation numbers to be submitted.
Festival Director called out Taiwan specifically, according to the SPC, Taiwan is to make arequest to Hawaiʻi to be brought to the SPC to be shared with CPAC. While there is no datesolidified for the Taiwan meeting, there is intention from Taiwan to participate. Festival Director
is asking for the commission to discussion Taiwan’s participation with FestPAC.
If there is already an agreement, Festival Director defers to Commission leadership for guidance.
Chair asked for them to discuss through this later within the meeting.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 4 of 6

Festival Director talked through Communications Strategy and Fund Development next, statingthat with Comms they have modified the strategy to appropriately respond to Maui and in stepwith the Governor. Stryker Wyner and Yokota (SWAY) has the focus to do communications
locally partnering with SPC to do comms that would be pushed throughout the region along withthe website is always updated with these communications. Currently designing acommunications protocol for media buys, messaging, visual assets, and media relations forAugust – October with all of this being in step with the fund development.
Fund Development has created a strategy to design sponsorship solicitor from private foundation
but mostly from abroad, then shifting to Hawaiʻi-based corporations.
For logistics and venues, Festival Director is focused on Governmental Relations with security
and protocols for biosecurity working with our government partners to continue to work throughlogistics and creating a master calendar for the festival. Festival Director continues to focus ontransportation, Support Services, Residential, and Shipping logistics.
Festival Director has reached out to various state entities for support for the festival with a list on
page 13 of the festival director presentation dictating the asks for each state department.
Festival Director also has reached through Commissioner Asher to various city entities forsupport for the festival with a list on page 14 of the festival director presentation dictating theasks for each city department.
Primary venues have been condensed to Hawaiʻi Convention Center as the main venue that will
host a majority of the events, Bishop Museum with robust activities and will host the carvers,and Hawaiʻi State Art Museum (HiSAM) coming in as a strong partner as well with a curated
exhibit called Sea of Islands and with collaberation with the SPC an exhibit on the 50th
anniversary of FestPAC.
Andre Perez is leading the waʻa programming where they will design a how uki (large steering
paddles), a kiʻi kanaloa (if they do not have kanaloa in their specific deity, any major deity willdo) and a waʻa kaulua. They will be forging metal to create koʻi as a traditional tool.
For the calendar, most pacific flights will come in on June 2, 2024 which is when the move-in
date being on that Sunday as well. Waʻa Ceremony at Kualoa Regionl Park on Wednesday, June
5, 2023. The Opening Ceremony will be on Thursday, June 6, 2023. On Friday, June 7, 2023
there will be a delegation to attend Kamehameha Lei Draping and Floral Parade with VVIP
Review Stands on Kalākaua. The Festival would then start with its full programming on June 10– June 15 with the Festival Village Closing on Sunday, June 16, 2023.
The full calendar is on page 17 and 18 within the meeting packet of the Festival Director’sreport.
HiSAM schedule is asking for two or so delegations per day from Monday, June 10th throughFriday, June 14th to send relevant personall for the various topics and practices they will befocusing on daily.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 5 of 6

Festival Director does not want to bring unvetted information to the full commision and would
prefer to bring it to the committee, but is asking the commission to decide the protocol moving
forward.
Commissioner de Silva asked why we are waiting to ask Hawaiʻi businesses in Febuary 2024 fordonations. Festival Director shared that they wanted to be mindful of Maui during this time towait for asking for sponsors from Hawaiʻi.
Commissioner Kippen asked about funding levels and tiers for FestPAC donors, Patty from
Gravitas Pasifika has put together a pyramid and tiers from $5 Million to $75,000 from thehighest to lowest tier levels to get the conversation going. Chair then shared the various
breakdown of the with the goal of meeting $20 Million in donations. Commissioner Kippen
asked for the latest commission-approved budget.
Commisioner Bento thanked the Festival Director for his report and asked about the update forvisas. The federal government shared that all countries are meant to work through their particular
offices to obtain their visas.
Commissioner Onishi asked about housing and currently it will be at University of Hawaiʻi andthey don’t see FestPAC needing an additional venue for housing.
Commissioner Lum asked if Festival Director could confirm that the capacity is 1,800 which
Festival Director confirmed.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā asked if the $5 million from the state has been released yet. Commissioner
Lum has said not yet, she has a few more steps to do and forms to fill out before it is unlocked.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā recommended that we have the committees to address the subject-matter areas
for Festival Director to meet with them for information that he may have questions on before its
presented to the full board.
Festival Director asked for the chairs of each committee and Chair agreed to have eachcommittee to meet on the side to decide who the chairs would be for each committee moving
forward. Chair Lum and Chair Onishi were nominated to organize the first meeting for thedecision.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā shared that he is not aware that a formal invitation has been sent to Taiwan but
did have meetings for discussion. Chair Lum said she would double-check to ensure that there
was no official invitation to Taiwan.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā shared that once we get that information, we will share with Festival Director
on if they did or did not get an invitation. From there, the commission will decide if they would
send an invitation.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 6 of 6

Commissioner de Silva wanted to share that even if an invitation was sent out, new invitations
were also sent that should be considered. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā shared that we will set Taiwan as aseparate agenda item moving forward to discuss and create an action item.
Commissioner Keohokālole asked about the invitation to Taiwan and if there needs to be any
specific federal governmental assistance in inviting Taiwan to FestPAC because they get special
consideration and protocol as a potential invitee. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā shared that yes there would
need to be, along with it being and he wants to make sure they do their due diligence in the next
agenda meeting. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā with the Festival Director will work together along witheveryone to present and make sure it gets presented.
With no additional questions, they moved on.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSThe chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, hecontinued with agenda items.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā had deferred this action item as the committee had not met.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā had deferred this action item as the committee had not met.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSThe chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, hecontinued with agenda items.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invites everyone to attend the Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference 2023 on October
2nd and 3rd, 2023 at Hawaiʻi Convention Center and if anyone wants to sponsor the conference,
there is opportunity. Additionally, wishing Maka Casson-Fisher a Happy Birthday.
NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on September 25, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā adjourned the meeting at 3:51 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair

Date

FestPAC Administra/ve Commi2ee Mee/ng
Thursday, September 21, 2023
8:30am – 9:30am via Zoom
Mee/ng Notes
A2endees: Jarre2 Keohokālole, Colin Kippen, Jamie Lum, Makana McClellan; Fes/val Director
Aaron Salā
Summary of discussions:
Funding Update
Request to release/contract the $5 million Legisla/ve appropria/on is moving through B&F.
Commissioner McClellan will contact B&F Director to ask them to expedite.
DBEDT also submi2ed a request for an addi/onal $5 million from the Governorʻs discre/onary
fund to support FestPAC.
Request for exemp/on to the State Procurement Oﬃce is pending.
Commissioner Keohokālole stressed the need to get the appropriated funds into the hands ofthe Fes/val Provider by the end of the year. Commissioner Lum assured the Commi2ee that
pending receipt of all approvals, a contract can be executed and at least a por/on of the funds
paid by the end of the year.
BudgetFD Salā is working on upda/ng the budget to reﬂect 2023/2024 prices and to be more in linewith the /meframe we are currently in; this will help focus our fundraising eﬀorts.
Fundraising
FD Salā reported that the Fund Development Director, Pad Look, has put together a plan tofundraise toward a goal of $20 million.
Commissioner McClellan believes we absolutely have to raise between $5 million-$7 million andasked if this is prac/cal and achievable. FD Salā answered aﬃrma/vely, especially if you look at
the large oﬀ-island private founda/ons that have expressed interest.
FD Salā also said he needs to circle back to Congressman Case’s oﬃce as they were pursuingFederal funding op/ons.
Commissioner Keohokālole stated that when the /me comes to approach local donors, they will
ask, “Has everyone at the table given?” He addressed Commissioner Kippen and said OHA is
one of those organiza/ons to which people will refer. He also men/oned KS as another.
1

Commissioner Kippen acknowledged that people will be looking at OHA to contribute to
FestPAC and that “ﬁrst-in money is important to fundraising.” He informed the Commi2ee that
the OHA board has commi2ed $5 million to help the Maui wildﬁre vic/ms and is taking theirdirec/on from Hawaiian leaders on Maui as to what to fund as well as encouraging all ﬁrevic/ms to apply for and access all available federal aid before it expires. However, he said weshould queue up a request to the OHA board and commi2ed to mee/ng with FD Salā and Pad
to talk about this.
FD Salā suggested there are other ways OHA can contribute such as allowing their Kakaʻakoproper/es to be used for storage and other purposes.
Invita/on to Taiwan
Commissioner Lum reported that back in October 2018, Governor Ige issued an invita/on to theCouncil of Indigenous People (CIP) in Taiwan to join FestPAC. As such DBEDT will prepare ale2er of invita/on to the CIP from Governor Green. Commissioner McClellan will assist in
gedng the le2er signed by the Gov.
Website launch
FD Salā reported that the FestPAC website went live today. It was designed by a recent
Crea/ve Media Academy graduate since there were no funds available at the /me. It’s very
basic, but once more funds are received, a contractor will be engaged to con/nue
working/improving the site.

2

Festival Director Report
Aaron J. Salā25 September 2023

Order of Report• Budget & Financial Status• Program and Content• Logistics and Operations• Marketing and Promotion• Community Engagement

Budget and Financial Status• $5M – Legislative Appropriation• $5M – Governor's Discretionary Fund
• $400K – Youth Ambassador Program• $250K – US Embassy NZ Grant (YPL)• $150K – Hawaiʻi Pacific Foundation• $750K – US Consular Grant

Program and Content• Program Narratives• Carving• Waʻa Ceremony & Program• Heritage and Performing Arts

• Calls for FestPAC Exhibits• Updated Venues• HOD Dossier

Logistics and Operations• Transportation scheduling in process• Charter flight schedule to be received• Accommodation• UH Housing – 1,538 beds
• Supplemental Housing: EWC Housing, St. Francis• Hotel blocks & promos• Info Pack for Heads of State/Traditional Leaders• Accommodation, travel, security, ground transport• Venue Diagrams & Specs• Operations meeting, Gov's officeMarketing and Promotion• Website live as of 09/21/2023• Whova platform (SPC)• Communications one-pager/leave-behind• Media/broadcast contract

Community Engagement• Youth Ambassadors Program• Festival Village and Dept of Education

Mahalo