Hawaii
Heading to FestPAC? Here’s what you need to know
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) kicks off Thursday with opening ceremonies set for the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The event begins at 4 p.m. at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
SPECIAL SECTION: FestPAC
It launches the festivities for the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders.
FestPAC brings together artists, cultural practitioners, scholar, officials and the general public from across the Pacific Islands and beyond.
The opening ceremony program includes addresses by:
- Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D and his wife, First Lady Jaime Kanani Green
- Kalani Ka’ana’ana, Chairperson, 13th FestPAC Commission
- Marla Fuata, Deputy Director-General of Operations and Integration, The Pacific Community
- Aaron J Sala, PhD, Festival Director
There will be a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band and a formal parade of nations representing all of the 27 nations participating in FestPAC.
Also, there will be an official exchange of gifts between the visiting delegations and host-Hawaii Delegation, as well as musical performances with some of the delegations.
On Wednesday, delegates from the 27 participating nations were welcomed in traditional canoes during the Wa’a Ceremony. The ceremony symbolized the unity of the Pacific nations.
FestPAC is also taking place at various locations on Oahu, including the Hawaii Convention Center which will serve as a major hub of events and Bishop Museum.
Here’s what’s happening on Friday, June 7:
| Event | Time, Location, Description |
|---|---|
| Festival Village Opening | Hawaii Convention Center — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Festival Village will be comprised of more than 20 hale, one for each participating nation to serve as the primary location for cultural exchange. Cultural practitioners will be demonstrating weaving, traditional cloth, weaponry, fishhooks, adornment, and more. Other key features of the Festival Village include Mauloa, the 29-foot long single-hull coastal sailing canoe, an interactive immersive experience, and a 60-foot Star Compass. Within the Festival Village will be the main FestPAC performance stage, where all 27 nations will perform heritage dance, contemporary music, choral singing, fashion shows, and more, throughout the 10 days. |
| Sister City Signing | Hawaii Convention Center — 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The City and County of Honolulu will conduct a Sister City signing with Rarotonga, Cook Islands. |
| Carving and Tattoo Demonstrations | Bishop Museum — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Carving demonstration will include Hoe Uli (large steering paddle), Kiʻi Kanaloa or god of the ocean (Taʻaroa, Tangaroa, Tangaloa), and Waʻa Kaulua (double hulled canoe). Indigenous tattoo practitioners from various Pacific nations will proudly showcase their heritage art and share techniques. |
| Pa’u Fashion Showcase | Hawaii Convention Center — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) On behalf of the 13th FestPAC, Manaola Yap has curated an exclusive Fashion Showcase that celebrates the shared stories, practices, and arts that connect our diverse heritages. The fashion showcase will feature runway shows by Nakeʻu Awai, Lotus and Lime, and MANAOLA, artisan creations by Nalani Kanakaʻole and Taupōuri Tangarō, and a cultural demonstration by Hālau Kekuhi. |
| Opening Event for PILINA: FestPAC 50th Anniversary Exhibit | Capitol Modern — 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. PILINA is a retrospective multimedia exhibition that commemorates the 50th Anniversary of FestPAC. The exhibition includes a photographic exhibition, ephemera and select cultural heritage objects. |
Ongoing Daily Events:
- The Festival Village will be open daily at the Hawaii Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Carving and Tattoo demonstrations will be available daily at Bishop Museum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
- FestPAC 50th Anniversary exhibit will be open daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Capitol Modern.
- Renowned artists from various nations will showcase traditional dances, music, and contemporary performances, daily, at various stages across Oʻahu. Venues will include Ala Moana Center, Kawaiaha’o Church, Our Kakaʻako, Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort (Kani Ka Pila Grille), Pālama Settlement, Polynesian Cultural Center, Royal Hawaiian Center, University of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Windward Mall.
Though the events are free, attendees will need to register via eTicket Hawaii.
FestPAC will run on Oahu from June 6 to 16.
For more information on the festival, click here.
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