CORRECTED

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM (DBEDT)MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FESTPAC) MEETING
THURSDAY, August 15, 2019, AT 10:00 A.M.
HAWAI‘I CONVENTION CENTER
1801 KALĀKAUA AVE., BOARD ROOM AHONOLULU, HAWAIʻI 96815
Commission Members Present were:
J. Kalani English, Chair
Snowbird Bento
Māpuana de Silva
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā
Misty Kela‘iMonte McComber-Senate President’s Designee
Commissioner - Community Member At-Large
Community Member At-Large
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority Designee
City & County of Honolulu Designee
Governor’s Designee

Jacob Aki
Sterline Bento
Donalyn Dela Cruz
Kapalai‘ula de Silva
Lawson Fernandes
Alexis HouJames Huang
Andrew Lockwood
Honey Maltin-Wisot
June Matsumoto
Michael Pili Pang
Jay Rojas
Vicky Takamine-Senator English’s Office-

Strategies 360
Kamehameha Schools
Mayors Office of the Culture and Arts (MOCA)
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)
Pacific Islands InstituteStrategies 360
Pacific Islands Institute
PA‘I Foundation
PA‘I Foundation
PA‘I Foundation

Guests:Staff:Margaret Ahn
Jamie LumRandy Tanaka
Selma Malcolm (Recording) -Attorney General’s Office
DBEDTDBEDT
DBEDT

Apologies:
Lynn DeCoite
Mehana Hind

-House Speaker’s Designee
Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Mike McCartney-Department of Business,
Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT)Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, August 15, 2019, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 2 of 6

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Chair English on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 10:05 a.m.,
who welcomed everyone present.
Introduction and Special Welcome extended to:
Sterline Bento, Commissioner Bento’s mother; Jane Matsumoto and Andrew Lockwood ofPacific Island Institute; Lawson Fernandes of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts
(MOCA), Alexis Hou from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu (TECOHonolulu) and Taiwan Austronesians Delegation. The Austronesians Delegation will be meetingwith Ms. Takamine and Ms. de Silva after the Commission meeting on 8/15 to obtain
information on FESTPAC 2020 to promote in their country. They indicated that they’ve alreadymade hotel reservations in Honolulu to attend FESTPAC.
APPROVAL OF JUNE 12 & JULY 3, 2019 MEETING MINUTES:
Minutes of the Meetings held on Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, July 3, 2019, wereapproved on a motion by Mr. Monte McComber and seconded by Ms. Misty Kela‘i.
Motion was passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. DBEDT Report:
Mr. Tanaka reported on the following:
Budget:The budget was presented, and Mr. Tanaka indicated that recommendations will
be made to PA‘I Foundation to trim the budget.

Fundraising:A total of $2.45 million in State funds has been appropriated.

To date, PA‘I Foundation has been awarded approximately $140,000 in National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants which will incur a 10 percent
administrative cost.

Schedule of Events/Event Priorities:
A revised Schedule of Events for FESTPAC 2020 was posted by PA‘I
Foundation. The information was also distributed to all the participating nations.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, August 15, 2019, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 3 of 6

University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Dorms:
PA‘I Foundation has secured 1800 beds at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) atMānoa for the delegates, but depending on how many countries/delegates confirm
their attendance, approximately 2800 beds might be needed except for Taiwanand New Zealand. During discussion, Mr. Tanaka stated that the challenges wewill experience with accommodations at UH are assignment of rooms,
reservations cut-off dates, and payment. He also stated that UH requested a fullpayment for accommodations by December 2019. He was concerned that theCommission would not receive commitments from the participating nations
before that date. Recently, he met briefly with the UH President David Lassnerand requested flexibility on the payment date. Mr. Tanaka suggested that during
the 29th Meeting of the Council of the Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC) in
September, the Commission must reemphasize the importance of the commitmentby the participating nations, otherwise the Commission will incur a liability.

Ground Transportation:
To minimize the cost of transportation, Mr. Tanaka stated that the VIPs
accommodations will be located near the Hawaiʻi Convention Center (HCC).
Staging of vehicles would be at HCC to eliminate parking fees at the hotels.
Transportation will also be provided for specific/late hours, i.e., UBER, taxi cabs,etc.

Venues:
Mr. Tanaka stated that there have been some challenges with FESTPACʻs
primary venue, the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, as it will be hosting a major event
ahead of FESTPAC in June 2020 that will occupy some of the spaces when ourdelegates are ready to check-in. He is concerned about overlaps June 9, 2020.
Mr. Tanaka stated that DBEDT will be the signer on the Contract with theHawaiʻi Convention Center in order to receive a government discount. He is also
working with HCC on other opportunities to reduce operating costs.
The Kapiʻolani Park Soccer Field is under consideration for the FESTPAC
Closing Ceremony. Mr. Tanaka stated that he discussed the logistics of theopening and closing of the Ala Wai Promenade, security functions, inclement
weather, etc., with PA‘I Foundation.

Customs/Biosecurity:
PA‘I Foundation has been meeting with the Customs and Biosecurity
representatives regarding FESTPAC and CPAC meetings. Mr. Tanaka stated thathe met with a representative of the Hawaii Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) recentlyand certain recommendations regarding FESTPAC are going forward.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, August 15, 2019, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 4 of 6

Report from Pacific Island Institute (PII)/Accommodation:
Ms. June Matsumoto reported that that PII received proposals from hotels for over 300
rooms and that all the hotels are in walking distance from the Hawaiʻi Convention
Center. Contracts are still being negotiated, as they are trying to get the same terms fromeach hotel.
B. OTHER REPORTS:
PA‘I Foundation – FESTPAC Events and Production, Delegations:Ms. Takamine presented her report with the budget and a list of meetings and events that
she attended. She also presented a layout of the Festival Village at the Ala Wai
Promenade for review. Approximately $140,000 was awarded in grants. She stated thatthe Director of the National Endowment for the Arts indicated she will be attending theFESTPAC Opening Ceremony on June 11, 2020.
Ms. Takamine reported that the State Department was notified that approximately 2,800delegates will be applying for Visas to attend FESTPAC 2020 in addition to others thatwill be attending the Festivals. Discussion was held regarding the letters of invitation.
Mr. Tanaka indicated that during the World Conservation Congress, letters of invitation
were placed on the website that the delegates printed and took to the embassy. Ms.
Takamine suggested an excel spreadsheet be created with Artists names, the name of
their Arts with information that they are a part of the FESTPAC delegation. However, itwas recommended that DBEDT be responsible for the preparation and distribution of theinvitation letters. Chair English noted that the Commission will do whatever is required
to assist with the visa process for the delegations.
Update on the number of Delegates confirmed for FESTPAC:
French Polynesian 100; Wallace & Futuna 50; Palau 100; Aotearoa 130; Tonga
50; and Marshall Islands 70 delegates.
Strategies 360 Report:
Strategies 360 Communication update on the Website, Social Media, Marketing andMerchandising, Media Partners and Sponsorship was reviewed and accepted.
Mr. Tanaka advised the Commissioners that Strategies 360’s contract with PAʻI expired,and DBEDT is seeking State Procurement Office approval to contract directly with
Strategies 360.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, August 15, 2019, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 5 of 6

SMS Consulting Status Report:
Ms. Takamine gave SMS’s report and stated that SMS has been assisting PA‘I
Foundation with funders/sponsors. They helped set up meetings with KGMB, Star
Advertiser and Clear Channel Radio to find out the potential for media exposure for
FESTPAC, and information needed in order to develop sponsorship packages.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Discussion:
29th Meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture (CPAC), September 10-13, 2019,in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi:FESTPAC 2020 Host Update to CPAC Delegates on September 12th
Mr. Tanaka advised that the Commission is scheduled to make a presentation atthe CPAC Meeting on September 12 and that a reception is also scheduled for thesame evening at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Approximately 100 people areinvited including the CPAC delegates, FESTPAC Commissioners, contractors,and partners. He recommended that all expenditures should be approved by theCommission.
Mr. Pili Pang reported that Rooms 320, 323A, 323B and 324 have been secured
for September 10-12, 2019 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center and loading isscheduled for September 9th. A meeting is scheduled with HCC at 11:00 a.m.
after today’s Commission meeting to discuss meals. Ms. de Silva will also beattending the meeting.
Transportation for the CPAC event is not yet confirmed. Mr. Pili Pang is working
on finalizing the site visits.
Ms. Takamine reported that PA‘I Foundation was requested to provide electronicequipment for CPAC and that would incur additional cost to PA‘I Foundation andthat Mr. Pili Pang has been working with the logistics coordinators at the HawaiʻiConvention Center regarding CPAC and FESTPAC 2020. She also reported thatMs. de Silva will be chairing the CPAC meetings and is currently revising theagenda with Ms. Luisa Mavoa and Ms. Kuiniselani Tago of the PacificCommunity (SPC).

Chair English requested that another letter of invitation be sent to Papua New Guinea
since there has been a change of government and the current government did not receive
initial invitation. He felt that that the change of government and turnover of government
officials in the region could be the reason for the slow responses. Ms. Takamine
informed the Commissioners that Ms. Luisa Mavoa from SPC sent emails to all theMinutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Thursday, August 15, 2019, Hawaiʻi Convention Center, Board Room A
1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96815
Page 6 of 6participating nations on August 13th, including Papua New Guinea. Chair English said
that he will be working in the region with several government leaders in the next monthand that he would double check with the countries and coordinate with Ms. de Silva.
Discussion ensued, and Ms. Takamine suggested Ms. Matsumoto of PII should negotiatea FESTPAC rate with the hotels to be posted on the FESTPAC website to track thebookings. Ms. Matsumoto indicated that this is already in process. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anāindicated that he/HTA is waiting for the information from PII to start building tour
packages. Mr. Tanaka will work with Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā to coordinate the packagebuilding.
Ms. Kela‘i stated that she advised Ms. Takamine that Matson is inquiring about
FESTPAC’s sponsorship package. Ms. Takamine stated that she met with Central PacificBank on August 8th, and they agreed to become a sponsor and that she will be meetingwith other bank representatives as well. Ms. Takamine said that she, Mr. Rojas and Mr.
Pili Pang are finalizing the sponsorship package. Chair English stated that thesponsorship package should be a priority and requested that Mr. Tanaka work with her onit. Mr. Tanaka said he met with Ms. Beth Lum, and she’s willing to assist with thesponsorship package pro bono and encouraged Ms. Takamine to contact/email her.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Chair English informed the Commissioners that he will out of town during the September
meeting and asked Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā to preside. He proposed that meeting dates and times be
adjusted as applicable and requested flexibility from the Commissioners.
The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hawaiʻi
Convention Center Executive Boardroom A. Mr. Ka‘anā‘anā will preside.
ADJOURNMENT:The Meeting ended at 11:12 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,___________________________________
Senator Kalani J. English
Chair________________________
Date