MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION ON THE 13TH FESTIVAL OF
PACIFIC ARTS & CULTURE (FestPAC) MEETINGMONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023 AT 03:00 P.M.
VIRTUAL APPLICATION ZOOMCommission Members Present were:
Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, Chair
Shanty Asher
Colin Kippen
Jamie Lum-

Makana McClellan-

Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Designee
City & County of Honolulu
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Department of Business, Economic Development,and Tourism (DBEDT)
Governor’s Designee

Aaron Salā-Festival Director

Elise Amemiya
Maka Casson-Fisher-

Office of the Attorney GeneralHawaiʻi Tourism Authority-Community
Community Member At-Large
Hawaiʻi State Senate
Hawai‘i State House of Representatives

Guests:Staff:

Apologies:
Snowbird Bento
Māpuana de Silva
Sen. Jarrett Keohokāhole
Rep. Richard Onishi

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā at 03:07 p.m., who welcomed
everyone present via ZOOM.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā conducted the roll-call attendance. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, Commissioner Asher,Commissioner Kippen, Commissioner Lum, and Commissioner McClellan were present viaZoom.
Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva, Commissioner Keohokālole and Commissioner
Onishi were excused.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 2 of 6

WEHENAThe Chair called upon Commissioner Lum to provide the wehena (opening) who introduced
Kumu Lāhela Kaʻaihue for the wehena.
Kumu Lāhela Kaʻaihue started in her wehena that she was a part of the very first FestPAC inTahiti and she was very happy to be a part of it. She shared that the commission has a big job on
their hand and that she’s so happy it’s going ot be in Hawaiʻi and wants to make sure it’spublicized so people can attend. Kumu Lāhela Kaʻaihue then shared the ‘oli Ka Lei Maila.
Also in attendance were Deputy Attorney General Elise Amemiya, Festival Director (FD) AaronSalā, as well as HTA support staff: Maka Casson-Fisher.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON AGENDA ITEMSNo testimony was received in advance of the day’s meeting. The chair invited members of thepublic 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 Programming/Venue Committee met on Tuesday, October 17. Hearing noadditional meetings, the Chair continued with the next agenda item.
APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 6, 2023 MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were previously distributed and reviewed by Commissioners. Chair Kaʻanāʻanārequested a motion to adopt the October 6, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Lum motioned and it
was Seconded by Commissioner McCllelan. With no additional discussion, Chair Kaʻanāʻanāconducted a roll-call vote. Chair Kaʻanāʻanā, and Commissioners Asher, Kippen, Lum, andMcClellan voted in favor of approving the unamended minutes of the October 6th, 2023 meeting.
Commissioner Bento, Commissioner de Silva, Commissioner Keohokālole and Commissioner
Onishi 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) Program and Content
2) Logistics & Operations
3) Marketing & Promotion4) Community Engagement
FD is working with SPC for bi-weekly circulars. The FestPAC website is up along with adelegation portal for the Heads of Delegations to login to receive up-to-date information. FS isworking on follow-ups on countries’ intent to participate form as 17 of the 28 countries invited
have accepted the invitation. There is currently a call for young ambassadors along with theVisual Arts exhibit at Capitol Modern along with the 50th Anniversary exhibit there as well.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
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They are also looking to find festivalgoers throughout the years to provide to the anniversary
exhibit in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi.
For Logistics & Operations, confirming T.C. Ching Athletics Complex and Stan Sheriff Centerwith UH. There are revised city asks for transportation as well as initial charger flight requests
for Air Tahiti, Aircalin, and Solomon Airlines.
FD is finalizing how to invite particular dignitary and traditional leaders as well to ensure proper
protocol. Council of Chiefs in Fiji would like to have a meeting of traditional leaders in early2024 and looking to FestPAC’s list of traditional leaders for them to invite as well.
FD had meetings for accommodations for secondary venues for rooming.
FD continues to meet with Biosecurity committee and make great strides in confirming thelogistics of transport of items and materials to and from Hawaiʻi.
FD has shared the FestPAC Organizing Team showcasing the 13th FestPAC Commission, thePacific Community (SPC), and Festival Provider’s team broken down within five categories:Operations, Administration, Programming, Biosecurity, and Venues attached below, explaining
who his contacts are for each topic.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
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Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
Page 5 of 6

For Marketing & Promotions, FD is working with Stryker Weiner & Yokota (SWAY) on a press
release while collecting contact emails from the website. FD has also begun to make more
traction through Social Media through Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
A member of the Gravitas Pasifika team will also be traveling to the East Coast for a Media Blitz
sharing the news of FestPAC while United States-based publications.
Commissioner Lum has asked how many actual delegates will be joining, which FD shared
about 1,300 delegates.
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā shared that with his Festival Director report, FD has shared agenda item #7
and 8. Chair also asked that they needed to revisit the MOA to meet with SPC once their plan isin place for broadcasting.
Hearing no additional questions/comments from Commissioners, the Chair continued with thenext agenda item.
PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING ADMINISTRATIVECOMMITTEE UPDATEThe Chair deferred this agenda item as the committee did not meet.

Minutes of the Commission on the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
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PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION REGARDING VENUES AND
PROGRAMMING COMMITTEEThe Venues & Programming Committee shared the minutes of their permitted interaction within
the meeting packet that should be referenced for those looking to know what was discussed. The
meeting will be discussed in the next commission meeting as the Venue and Programming Chairwas absent from this meeting.
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
No Announcements.
NEXT MEETINGThe next meeting will be held in-person on November 6, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. in Room TBA.
Wehena to be provided by Commissioner Asher.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Kaʻanāʻanā adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,Nov 7, 2023Kalani Kaʻanāʻanā
ChairDate