MOANA M. LUTEY

RICHELLE M. THOMSONCounty Clerk

Deputy County Clerk

OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERKCOUNTY OF MAUl
200 SOUTH HIGH STREETWAILUKU, MAUl, HAWAII 96793

www.mauicounty.gov/county/clerk

June 12,2024

Mr. Kalani Ka'ana'ana, Chair
13th FestPAC Commission

Hawaii Convention Center, First Level
1801 KalakauaAve.

Honolulu, HI 96815
Dear Mr. Ka'ana'ana:

Transmitted herewith is a certified copy of Resolution No. 24-107,

which was adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, State of Hawaii,
on June 7, 2024.

Respectfully,

MOANA lyLufEYCounty Clerk/Iks
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Resolution
No.

24-107

CELEBRATING THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS AND CULTURE HOSTED BY

HAWAII, JUNE 6-16, 2024

WHEREAS, for the first time, Hawaii is hosting the 13th Festival ofPacific Arts and Culture, or FestPAC, June 6-16, 2024; andWHEREAS, Hawaii will welcome more than 2,200 delegates from 27
Pacific Island nations for 10 days of cultural exchange, appreciation, andcelebration; andWHEREAS,the 13th FestPAC Commission chose the theme Ho'ouluL^ui: Regenerating Oceania, meaning "to grow the nation"; andWHEREAS, this year's FestPAC intends to bring attention to several
urgent issues facing the Pacific region, including rising sea levels, climatechange, sustainability, coral-reef death, and widening social inequality;
andWHEREAS, FestPAC is the world's largest celebration of indigenous
Pacific Islanders and was launched in 1972 by the South PacificCommission, now known as the Pacific Community (SPC), to halt theerosion of traditional practices through cultural exchange by:• showcasing vibrant and unique cultural heritage;• exchanging knowledge and skills; and• fostering greater understanding and appreciation among
diverse communities; andWHEREAS, FestPAC is held every four years in a different PacificIsland location and was hosted by Guam in 2016 but postponed in 2020
because of the COVID-19 pandemic; andWHEREAS, after more than 40 years since its inception, FestPAC

has developed into a unique forum where cultural sharing and learning

Resolution No.

24-107

have enhanced the appreciation of traditional arts, crafts, music, dance,and oral traditions with the world; andWHEREAS, FestPAC provides free access to the public for mostevents to celebrate the importance of culture and the arts in the Pacific;
andWHEREAS, FestPAC will include the following events:• a canoe arrival ceremony to initiate the festival and symbolize
unity as cultural representatives from various Pacific Island
nations arrive in traditional canoes;• an opening ceremony to launch the festivities
performances, speeches, and a parade of nations;with• an ecumenical service to unite attendees in reflection andprayer;• the Festival Village at the Hawai'i Convention Center, whereartisans will feature traditional and heritage art

demonstrations, including kapa making, weaving, jewelry
crafting, chanting, and dancing;• a symposium including panel discussions, educational
forums, masterclasses, workshops, and conferences thatenhance cultural understanding, sustainability, and thepreservation of Pacific heritage; and• a closing ceremony to celebrate with performances andexpressions of gratitude; andWHEREAS, the 27 Pacific Island nations confirmed to attend the13th FestPAC are: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island(Rapa Nui), Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam,Hawai'i, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand,Niue, Norfolk Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands,Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and Taiwan; andResolution No.

24-107

WHEREAS, the agenda will focus on the shared challenges PacificIsland nations face, including sustainable economies, geopoliticaldynamism, environmental-sustainability issues. Indigenous rights, thegrowing diaspora of Pacific Island peoples, and other critical issues; andWHEREAS, every Pacific Island nation attending FestPAC is on thefront line of the climate crisis; from rising sea levels that threaten theirvery existence to extreme weather events that disrupt their economies andlivelihoods, climate change significantly impacts all the people of Oceania;
andWHEREAS, building political relationships with Pacific Islandnations began under Kamehameha III, and by the time of Kamehameha V

theHawaiian

Kingdomhadestablisheddiplomatic relationships

throughout Polynesia; andWHEREAS, during his reign. King Kalakaua furthered diplomatic

ties to strengthen and secure the kingdom's independence and leadership
position among Asian and Pacific Island nations following his 1881
worldwide voyage; andWHEREAS, at its diplomatic height in 1887, the Hawaiian

Kingdom's government had 103 embassies and other diplomatic posts
worldwide, including several throughout the Pacific; andWHEREAS, King Kal^aua's administration envisioned a Polynesian

Confederacy, sharing its cultural and ethnic heritage and promoting thecultural and political similarities among nations and its peoples; andWHEREAS, in Februaiy 1887, Samoa's King Malietoa Laupepa
signed a Treaty of Confederacy with Hawai'i, but a civil war in Stoioa andthe forced signing of Hawai'i's Bayonet Constitution prevented King
Kal^aua's vision of a politically unified region; andWHEREAS, a delegation will be visiting Maui County, including theYoung Pacific Leaders participating in activities at the University of Hawaii
Maui College; andWHEREAS, with FestPAC held only eveiy four years and hostinghonors rotated among many nations, Hawaii hosting this celebration willbe a once-in-a-lifetime for some participants; now, therefore.

Resolution No.

24-107

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Maul:
1.

That it celebrates the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture

hosted by Hawaii, June 6-16, 2024; and2.

That certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Josh Green, M.D., Governor, State of Hawaii; theHonorable Sylvia Luke, Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawaii;
the Honorable Ronald Kouchi, Senate President, State ofHawaii; the Honorable Scott Saiki, Speaker of the House,
State of Hawaii; Aaron J. Sala, Festival Director, FestPAC;
Kalani Ka'ana'ana, Chair, 13th FestPAC Commission; and the
Honorable Richard T. Bissen, Jr., Mayor, County of Maui.

paf:jpp:23-134a

KEANI N

INTRODUCED BY:ANDEZ

COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF MAUl

WAILUKU, HAWAII 96793

CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION

It is HEREBY CERTIFIED that RESOLUTION NO. 24-107 was adopted by theCouncil of the County of Maui, State of Hawaii, on the 7th day of June, 2024, by
the following vote:

Alice L.

MEMBERSROLL CALL

LEE
Chair

Aye

YuKi Lei K.
SUGiMURATom
COOK

GabrielJOHNSONNatalie A.
KAMA

Tamara A. M.
PALTIN

Vice-Chair

Aye

Keani N. W.
RAWLINS-Shane M.
SINENCI

NohelaniU'U-HODGINS

Aye

Aye

FERNANDEZ

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye