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, October 9, 2023
3:00 p.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/83550590909

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 of September 25, 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 23, 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, SEPTEBMER 25, 2023 AT 11:30 A.M.
VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOM
Commission Members Present were:
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, Chair
Snowbird Bento
Māpuana de Silva
Sen. Jarrett Keohokāhole
Jamie Lum-

Rep. Richard Onishi-

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
Community
Community Member At-Large
Hawaiʻi State Senate
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

Apologies:
Shanty Asher
Colin Kippen
Makana McClellan-

City & County of Honolulu
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Governor’s Designee

Guests:Staff:CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā at 11:33 a.m., who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.
The Chair called upon Commissioner de Silva to provide the wehena (opening).
Commissioner de Silva shared about her experience with Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima and theirattendance to the 8th FestPAC held in New Caledonia in the year 2000. She offered the oli Eia
Hawaiʻi, Here is Hawaiʻi – that ties us as Hawaiʻi to the rest of the Pacific.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Page 2 of 5

Point of Privilege, Chair Kaʻanāʻanā reiterates that Eia Hawaiʻi – Hawaiʻi intends to host thefestival. On record that Hawaiʻi intends to welcome everyone in June. There might have beenquestions and concerns regarding Maui but Hawaiʻi is hosting and excited to do so.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā conducted the roll-call attendance. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner Bento,
Commissioner de Silva, Commissioner Keohokālole, Commissioner Lum, and Commissioner
Onishi were present via Zoom.
Commissioner Asher, Commissioner Kippen, and Commissioner McClellan were excused.
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
Chair shared that the Admin Committee met on Thurs, Sept 21 8:30-9:30a via Zoom and that theProgramming/Venue Committee met on Thurs, Sept 14 9:00 am - 9:30 am via Zoom.
Hearing no additional meetings, the Chair continued with the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by Commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the September 11, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Onishi motioned
and it was Seconded by Commissioner Bento. In discussion, Commissioner Bento requested thatthe attendance be revised to reflect her presence. Staff to make changes. With no further
discussion, Chair Kaʻanāʻanā conducted a roll-call vote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, and Commissioners
Bento, de Silva, Keohokālole, Lum, and Onishi voted in favor of approving the amended minutesof the September 11th, 2023 meeting. Commissioner Asher, Commissioner Kippen, andCommissioner McClellan were excused. Motion passed.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING THE FESTIVAL
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Festival Director Salā provided an update regarding the following items:
1) Budget & Financial Status
2) Program and Content
3) Logistics & Operations
4) Marketing & Promotion5) Community Engagement
FD mentioned that First Lady Green is calling a meeting with members of the FestPAC
Commission to discuss operations and logistical support. Those invitations will be going out
soon. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā reminded commissioners of the need to stay in alignment with Sunshinelaws.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Page 3 of 5

FD Salā updated the Commission that there will be partnership with Windard Community
College to bring performing arts to the Windward side of Oʻahu.
FD Salā would like to encourage the Admin Committee to revisit the Media/Broadcast Contract
discussion.
The FestPAC website is Live. In an effort to streamline communications with the region, there
will be a Delegation Portal on the FestPAC website. Documents, Forms and General Information
is being made available there.
Comissioner Onishi asked FD Salā to clarify if the Youth Ambassador Program is part of theoverall FestPAC budget or separate. FD Salā confirmed that it is not part of the original $20mil
as a specific line item but that there are components of the overall budget that point to that typeof engagement.
Commissioner Keohokālole requested that other online sources (ie. NaHHA and DBEDT) clean
up their information to include prominent links to the live FestPAC website.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā commended Festival Director Salā and the communications team for theirwork in updating the website, communications, and social media efforts. Hearing no additionalcomments from Commissioners, the Chair continued with the next agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATE
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā mentioned that the Admin Committee met on Thurs, Sept 21 8:30-9:30a via
Zoom. He called upon the committee’s Chair to provide the report. Chair Lum shared that they
discussed the following items: Funding Updates, Budget, Fundraising Efforts, Invitation to theCouncil of Indigenous People (CIP) in Taiwan, and Website Launch
The committee did submit a request to release/contract the $5 million Legislative appropriation.
It is moving through B&F. Commissioner McClellan will contact B&F Director to ask them to
expedite. DBEDT also submitted a second request for an additional $5 million from theGovernor’s discretionary fund to support FestPAC. Commissioner Lum assured the Committee
and Commissioners that pending receipt of all approvals, a contract can be executed and at leasta portion of the funds paid by the end of the calendar year.
FD and Admin Committee will be updating the budget to reflect 2023/2024 prices and to be
more in alignment with the current timeframe.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā asked for clarification regarding the funding. Chair will go off-line and workwith agencies to have the Legislative appropriation out as soon as possible. He sees it necessary
as the FD is already executing contracts on behalf of the Commission.
Commissioner Keohokālole strongly advocates that the Committee have a conversation
expeditiously with local funders, especially those that will be involved in the Festival, like OHA.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Page 4 of 5

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
The newly constituted Venues & Programming Committee met on Thursday, September 14th via
Zoom. A unanimous decision was made to accept Commissioner Bento’s offer to Chair theCommittee. Chair Bento will be meeting with Festival Director Salā to review the schedule ofitems that need attention by the Committee.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā reminded the Commissioners about the Venue Fact Sheets prepared by
NaHHA. Some delegations are asking questions regarding venues. Chair asks that the FD reachout to NaHHA to obtain those fact sheets. In further reflection, Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner
Bento and Commissioner Lum were part of the first commission meeting in January 2018.
Commissioner de Silva brought up the situation regarding invitation to Taiwan. She understands
that an invitation was sent out to Taiwan in 2018 but she was reminded by SPC that if Hawaiʻi
would like to move forward with the invite to Taiwan, it needs to go to CPAC first. Hawaiʻicannot make the call to put Taiwan on the list. Each time the festival
Commissioner Lum seeks clarification as it’s the same festival that should have taken place in
2020. Commissioner de Silva reiterated that it should still be brought before CPAC forconfirmation.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā requested that Commissioners Lum and de Silva work offline to confirm andclarify the process that needs to be followed. He sought the Commissioners support in honoringthat invitation.
Commissioner de Silva reiterated that she would like to work with Commissioner Lum but that
the Commission needs to be cautions of what is being communicated directly to CIP/Taiwan
because there are protocols and channels of communication that need to be followed.
Hearing no additional comments from Commissioners, the Chair continued with the next agenda
item.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSThe chair invited members of the public to testify on the agenda items. Hearing none, hecontinued with agenda items.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference October 2-3, 2023 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center
The FestPAC Working Group Meeting is being held today at 3p HST
To be Chaired by Commissioner de Silva and on behalf of Hawaiʻi, Chair Kaʻanāʻanā willattend.
NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting will be held virtually on Zoom on October 9, 2023 at 3pm (unless otherwise
noted). Wehena to be provided by Commissioner Asher.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, September 25, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
Page 5 of 5

ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā adjourned the meeting at 12:22 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,

Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
Chair

Date

Festival Director Report
Aaron J. Salā
09 October 2023

Order of Report• Program and Content• Logistics and Operations• Marketing and Promotion

Program and Content• Programming• Ceremonies – waʻa, opening, closing• Performing Arts – venue specs• Heritage Arts – program and exchange• Visual Arts – call to go out• Youth Ambassador Program – call to go out• HOD Dossier Issue #1 – sent out 10/06/2023

Logistics and Operations• Accommodation• UH Housing Contract (pending update)• Hotel Blocks & Promos• Transportation• Main Lifts:• Waʻa Ceremony @ Kualoa• Hōʻike @ Bishop Museum• Charter Flight Information (pending)• Invite to Heads of State / Traditional Leaders• Biosecurity Standing• Operations Meeting at the Office of the Governor (10/06/2023)

Marketing and Promotion• HTA• Global Marketing Partners• Hawaiʻi Tourism Conference 2023

• Website• Contact Emails• Delegation Portal• Media / Broadcasting• Specs & update provided by SPC• Contract (pending update)• Social MediaMahaloFestPAC Administra�ve Commitee Mee�ng
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
2:30PM-3:30PM
via ZoomMee�ng Notes
Atendees: Jarret Keohokālole, Colin Kippen, Jamie Lum; Fes�val Director Aaron Salā
Excused: Makana McClellan
Funding Update
DBEDT received B&F/Gov approval for the $5M Legisla�ve appropria�on PLUS the $5M fromthe Governor’s discre�onary fund, for a total of $10M in State funding.
DBEDT expects to receive approval from the State Procurement Oﬃce (SPO) for an exemp�onfrom procurement.
DBEDT will be working with FD Salā on a supplemental agreement.
Commissioner Lum reminded the Commitee that the contract for delegate housing is between
DBEDT and UH. She and FD Salā discussed this and agreed that a por�on of the $10M will beheld by DBEDT to enable DBEDT to pay UH directly.
Commissioner Lum shared that in their review of the exemp�on request, the SPO asked if any
funds would be returned to the State if the total amount of public funds and private dona�ons
exceed the ﬁnal expenses for the Fes�val. Commitee members discussed this issue andsupport including language in the contract sta�ng that any funds remaining a�er all ﬁnal
expenses are paid shall be returned to the State.
Commissioner Kippen advised FD Salā to go ahead a prepare a presenta�on to the OHA Board
for a funding request.
Fundraising Update
FD Salā and Pa� Look (fund developer) will begin bi-weekly engagements with private donors
beginning next week. Grant proposals to private founda�ons on the con�nent are also being
prepared.