MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2024 AT 05:30 P.M.
HYBRID VIA ZOOM
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Shanty Asher
Snowbird Bento
Stacy FerreiraSen. Jarrett Keohokāhole
Jamie Lum-Rep. Richard Onishi-Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)
City & County of Honolulu
Community
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Department of Business, Economic Development,and Tourism (DBEDT)
Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives

Elise Amemiya
Maka Casson-Fisher-Office of the Attorney General
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)

Aaron J. Salā-Festival Director, Gravitas Pasifika

Apologies:
Māpuana de Silva
Makana McClellan-Community
Governor’s Designee

Staff:

Guests:CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā (Chair) at 5:37pm, who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.
WEHENA
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā called upon Festival Director Salā to provide the wehena (opening). FD Salāthen performed a mele for Kaukini, a famous bird catcher of Waipiʻo Valley, “known so well for
his community service that they commemorate him in song,” in FD Salā’s words, “the work that
we have done collaboratively in community, bringing us all together, is something for us tocelebrate.” FD then performed a mele (song) in tribute of Kaukini.
ATTENDANCEMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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Chair Kaʻanāʻanā and Commissioners Asher, Bento, Ferreira, Keohokālole, Lum, and Onishi
were present. Commissioners de Silva and McClellan were excused prior. Staff Member CassonFisher, Festival Director Aaron Salā, and Deputy AG Elise Amemiya, were also present viaZoom.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited public members attending the ZOOM call to testify on any agenda
items. Hearing and seeing none, Chair proceeded to the next agenda item.
REPORT ON PERMITTED INTERACTIONS, PURSUANT TO ACT 103, SESSIONLAWS OF HAWAIʻI 2021
Chair noted neither an Admin or Venue Committee meeting took place between commission
meetings. Hearing and seeing no further permitted interactions from the commission, Chair
continued to the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE MAY 13TH, 2024 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the May 13th 2024 minutes. Commissioner Onishi motioned,
seconded by Commissioner Lum. With no additional discussion, Chair conducted a roll-callvote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, and Commissioners Asher, Bento, Ferreira, Keohokāhole, Lum, andOnishi voted in favor of approving the unamended minutes of the May 13th 2024 meeting.
Commissioners de Silva and McClellan were excused. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF THE MAY 20TH, 2024 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the May 20th 2024 minutes. Commissioner Lum motioned,seconded by Commissioner Bento. With no additional discussion, Chair conducted a roll-callvote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, and Commissioners Asher, Bento, Ferreira, Keohokāhole, Lum, andOnishi voted in favor of approving the unamended minutes of the May 20th 2024 meeting.
Commissioners de Silva and McClellan were excused. Motion carried.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Festival Director (FD) Salā presented updates on operations, security and credentialing
protocols, marketing and promotions, and updates on the festival village build.
FD Salā began with acknowledgements- first, to the Pacific Islands Institute (PII) for their
dedication to overseeing the arrivals for each delegation. Then to the City and County ofHonolulu Department of Facilities and Maintenance for assisting with hauling the lumber, felledby the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), from Waimanalo to the Hawaii
Convention Center. Construction of the individual hale (houses) of the festival village wascompleted a day early. FD Salā then acknowledged Linda Lileikis of Architects Hawaii Limited(AHL) and Rick Schneider of Events International for their contributions. Salā noted a personaland moving observation during the construction of the festival village- seeing volunteers fromthe military in uniform, together with Hawaii resident volunteers, building hale together. Salācalled it “An incredible sight, to forsake our individual selves for something much larger.”
Prior to the festival village opening on Friday, the Mauloa wa'a (canoe) had been delivered from

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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Hilo just a few days prior, Upon entrance to the festival village, the Mauloa will be thecenterpiece, pointing to a star compass that projects the night sky onto the ceiling of theexhibition hall. Plants from Hui Kū Maoli Ola have been additionally been delivered, withacknowledgment to Rick Barboza. FD Salā described the convention center being transformed
into a welcoming gallery space.
The Council for Pacific Arts and Culture had a meeting set for the following morning, with amajority of FestPAC delegates arriving by the middle of the week of June 3rd.
A 36-page Star Advertiser insert will serve as the program for the festival, with a 20,000
additional copy overrun, with 1,000 keepsake editions for dignitaries and VIPs, that will bedelivered within the week. With further acknowledgements to Rick Schneider and Events
International, credentialling has been in-process for arriving delegates and festival staff, andtakes about two minutes per participant to complete on-site. As security protocols will beheightened during the festival event, assuring proper maintenance for dignitaries and VIPs is apriority for FD and team.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā asked of the commission for additional questions or comments, to which
Commissioner Ferreira inquired what type of access a “sponsor” event staffer would have, ascompared to a regular staff or VIP member. FD Salā then responded that all staff members will
have access to what they need, operationally- with sponsors receiving inclusive event access for
the FestPAC venues.
Chair then expressed heartfelt gratitude to all collaborators, and desire for each member
participating in the meeting to invite their friends and family, and to spread the word about thefestival event.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair deferred the agenda item as there was no meeting of the administrative committee.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair deferred the agenda item as there was no meeting of the venues and programming
committee.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE
COPYRIGHT OF THE 13TH FESTPAC BROADCAST
Chair deferred the agenda item.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMS
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā invited public testimony. Hearing and seeing none, Chair proceeded toannouncements.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair announced that the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture was fast ahead, and for all toparticipate at their leisure. There will be additional satellite venues at Windward Mall forO‘ahu’s windward community, Kamakana Alii for the west community, and the Palama
Settlement for the central community. Chair then acknowledged the Hawaii Community
Foundation for the grants they issued to help bring neighboring island residents to O‘ahu toMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, June 3, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
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experience the festival. Hawaii News Now was also recognized as the festival’s broadcast
partner, ensuring the event is accessible for those unable to attend in-person. He then advised
against parking at the convention center due to limited spaces available for attendee and VVIP
participant vehicles, and utilizing ride-share options or commuting, if possible due to the highvolume of anticipated visitors. Chair lastly expressed gratitude to the commission,acknowledging all members for their long-lasting commitment to this historical event, as well as
senate commission members, and members of their respective caucuses for the support of thelegislature for the event. Chair then stated that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 1st
2024 at 3:00pm. Hearing no further announcements, the meeting was adjourned at 5:55PM
Respectfully Submitted,Jul 1, 2024

Kalani KaʻanāʻanāChairDate