DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, JUNE 1, 2020 AT 1:00 PM
VIA VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM: VIDEO / AUDIO CONFERENCE
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Richard Onishi
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Māpuana de Silva
Snowbird Bento
Mehana Hind
Monte McComber
Dennis Ling-

Senate President’s Designee
House Speaker’s Designee
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
Community Member At-Large
Community Member At-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Governor’s Designee (arrived at 1:14pm)
Department of Business,
Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT)

Amber Jacroux Bixel
Jackie Burke
Maka Casson-Fisher
Eric Chang
Donalyn Dela Cruz
Marina George
Ilihia Gionson
Lynn Martin Graton
Marques Hanalei Marzan
Honey Maltin-Wisot
Ngahiraka Mason
June Matsumoto
Kanoe Takitani-Puahi-Bishop Museum
Kahookele Art
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
East-West Center
Strategies 360-Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NHHA)-Bishop Museum
Strategies 360
Representative for New Zealand Delegation
Pacific Island Institute (PII)
Mayor’s Office of the Culture and Arts (MOCA)

Guests:Staff:Margaret Ahn-

Attorney General

Jamie Lum
Marlene Hiraoka
Selma Malcolm
Timothy Tiu-DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT
DBEDT-City & County of Honolulu Designee

Apologies:
Misty Kela‘iMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 2 of 6

CALL TO ORDER
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Monday, June 1, 2020, at1:05 p.m., who welcomed everyone present via Zoom and Facebook.
APPROVAL OF MAY 22, 2020 MEETING MINUTES
Minutes of the meeting held on May 22, 2020, were approved unamended on a motion by Rep.
Onishi and seconded by Mr. Ling.
Motion was unanimously approved.
REPORTS
A. DBEDT Report:
Mr. Ling reported that a teleconference was held between DBEDT and HTA/Mr.
Ka‘anā‘anā with the agencies’ respective attorneys general. The parties agreed that theremaining PAʻI Foundation funds and DBEDT’s FY20 appropriation will be deposited atthe Hawaiʻi Convention Center (HCC/AEG) as a downpayment for the venue for therescheduled FESTPAC. HCC/AEG is currently drafting an agreement for DBEDT’sreview. Mr. Ling stated that the draft agreement will be reviewed by the Deputy
Attorneys General, and the agencies will proceed from there.
A question was raised whether the Commission needs to approve this matter. Ms. Ahn
suggested that the Commission vote to transfer existing FESTPAC funds to theHCC/AEG. Mr. Ling made a motion to have DBEDT enter into a contract withHCC/AEG that includes the deposit of the existing funds for venue, facilities, and othermeeting-related expenses. The funds will include $738,677.04 from PAʻI Foundation
and $585,715.73 from DBEDT’s appropriation with a combined total of $1,324,392.77.
Rep. Onishi seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was requested with the following Commissioners approving the motion:
Chair English, Rep. Onishi, Ms. de Silva, Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā, Ms. Hind, Ms. Bento, andMr. Ling.
Motion was unanimously approved.
B. Artistic Director’s Report:
Ms. Bento indicated that she is currently exploring options for blended Festival activities.
At this point in time, no additional report was presented.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 3 of 6C. Festival Coordination Directors’ Report:
Rep. Onishi reported that before the Legislature adjourned on March 17, 2020, both heand Chair English looked at several vehicles to extend the Commission. Senate Bill 3088
was the vehicle that was going to be used to extend the Commission. The bill was heard
by the Committee and scheduled for decision making, but the Legislature shutdown
before that occurred. As such, there is currently no vehicle to extend the Commission.
Chair English and Rep. Onishi stated they will address this matter during the next
Regular Session of the Legislature in 2021.
D. Marketing and Sponsorship Director’s Report:
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā reported that due to the current situation, there has been no further
progress related to sponsorships. He indicated that he is still working on revising thelogo and hopes to be able to present the artwork at the next meeting.
E. Administration Director’s Report:
Mr. McComber reported that regarding the proposed film strand that was initiallydiscussed, Kamehameha Schools and Pacific Islanders in Communication (PIC)
partnered to present a scaled version and would like to be named as part of the Festival.
They are seeking the Commission’s approval regarding this request.
Chair English stated that the Commission needs to have a discussion related topartnerships under the new hybrid system that is being discussed.
Ms. de Silva asked whether the group wanted to present the film this year, to which
Mr. McComber answered affirmatively. Ms. de Silva stated that the Festival’s namecannot be used for this project because Hawaiʻi is still waiting for an official decisionfrom the Pacific Community (SPC) confirming that the Festival has been postponed to2024. This decision requires Council and country Ministers’ approval to finalize plans
and the Festival dates. Once the Director General of the SPC announces the new Festival
dates, it will be officially posted by SPC.
Ms. Bento stated that at the last meeting there was some discussion about considerationof a theme change, and she asked Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā if that is having any impact on theFestival branding or public relations. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā said right now he has just asked
that guiding principles be developed in an effort to work toward a design charette. Once
he is comfortable with that, he will make a presentation to the Commission.
Ms. de Silva asked Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā for clarification on whether he is working on a design
or working on the process. He confirmed that he is currently working on developing aprocess. Ms. de Silva reiterated that it is not appropriate for the Commission to make any
decisions on theme, logo design, etc., until we receive official notification from the SPC
regarding the new Festival dates. The Chair asked Ms. de Silva if she knew how long

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. via ZOOMPage 4 of 6that would take. Ms. de Silva stated that she believes the SPC will be reporting back toHawaiʻi soon. They are currently translating the minutes of the last meeting since theyneed to distribute the minutes to the French speaking countries all at the same time.
Mr. Ling commented that the Strategies 360 (S360) contract will end at the end of July
2020. They will not be doing any public relations work beyond that period. Mr. Ling
reported that once DBEDT transfers the appropriated funds to the HCC/AEG, thedepartment will not have any additional funds available for use. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā asked
what contracts DBEDT is currently managing and Mr. Ling reported that DBEDT hascontracts with S360 and Pacific Islands Institute (PII).
Ms. Hind asked a question about the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Housing. Initially, UH
requested additional compensation attributable to the potential loss of a contract due tothe initial housing needs of FESTPAC 2020. Ms. Hind asked whether UH will becharging us additional fees beyond the amount of $258,000 already paid to them as ahousing deposit. Mr. Ling stated that UH will not be charging any additional fees.
Chair English commented that he recalled that during a previous Commission meeting, it
was agreed that S360’s contract would be extended. It was mentioned that the amount of
the contract extension for S360 was not factored into the balance that Mr. Ling providedin DBEDT’s report. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā emphasized that there is a need to maintain social
media presence and the Festival website so as not to lose momentum. He assumed thatS360’s contract would be extended through the year and suggested that the contract beextended.
Ms. Ahn recommended that the Commission put the S360 contract extension on the next
meeting agenda. Mr. Ling indicated that the total amount of funding that would betransferred to HCC/AEG will need to be amended if S360’s contract is extended. Ms.
Ahn advised that Mr. Ling’s original motion be amended.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā made a motion that the originally reported amount of $1,324,392.77
approved for the contract between HCC/AEG and DBEDT be reduced to reflect thecontract extension amount the Commission will discuss at the next meeting. Rep. Onishi
seconded the motion.
A roll call vote on this motion was requested with the following commissioners agreeing
to the motion: Chair English, Rep. Onishi, Ms. Hind, Ms. de Silva, Mr. McComber, Mr.
Ka‘anā‘anā, Ms. Bento, and Mr. Ling.
Motion was unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. de Silva reported that she was informed by Ms. Kuiniselani that a Hawaiʻi FESTPAC
Facebook post on May 29, 2020, announced prematurely that FESTPAC would beMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
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postponed until 2024. Ms. de Silva acknowledged that although she reported the newdate during the May 29, 2020, FESTPAC Commission meeting, there should not havebeen a public announcement on social media. Ms. de Silva apologized to Ms.
Kuiniselani about the misstep.
Ms. de Silva said that when this matter was brought to her attention, she requested thepost be taken down immediately; however, it took two hours before the post waseventually removed from Facebook. She reiterated the fact that any announcement of thenew FESTPAC dates must come from the SPC and not from Hawaiʻi. She alsocommented that the same mistake was made when the Festival was initially postponed to2021. The only information that should be posted on social media is about Hawaiʻi’sprogram plans. She further stated that even the overall programming regarding theFestival will be made by the SPC. She requested that Hawaiʻi be respectful of theprocess of the SPC.
The Chair commented that due to the worldwide access and viewership regarding thepublic FESTPAC Commission meetings, information that the Commission discusses
during these public meetings is widely available. Ms. de Silva acknowledged that but
requested that protocols be established regarding how information is disseminated inorder to avoid this situation from happening again.
Ms. de Silva further commented that the SPC has not decided on how the next Festival
will be presented. As such, the Commission should also refrain from these discussions.
Once Hawaiʻi receives guidelines from the SPC, we can begin to move forward with ourplanning process. This is a reminder that Hawaiʻi can only follow the existing SPC
manual and that discussions and decisions be made in line with the Festival Manual.
Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā stated that Hawaiʻi operates on a different system that is required of theCommission because of Sunshine Laws related to public meetings. He further
acknowledged that the Commission also needs to follow SPC’s guidelines and,
unfortunately, the two systems are not aligned. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā commented that we havea kuleana to the public as a State Commission. He suggested that the Commission
consider using the process of Executive Sessions, within reason and as allowed by law, todiscuss non-public matters.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Chair English invited members of the public to testify. Hearing none, he asked members todiscuss the date of the next meeting.
CLOSING REMARKS
Chair English expressed his thanks to everyone for attending the meeting. As the Commission
moves forward, he looks forward to developing a hybrid system for the next Festival.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
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DATE OF NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 1:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,Senator J. Kalani English
Chair

June 12, 2020
Date