Governor Josh Green, M.D., First Lady Jaime Kanani Green, and festival organizers had the honor of hosting the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) in Hawai‘i for the first time in the festival’s 52-year history. This event is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders and brought together 25 nations from across the Pacific. Various events were conducted on O‘ahu from June 6-16, 2024, showcasing and celebrating each nation’s arts, culture, and traditions.

“It was truly a historic and unforgettable occasion to welcome guests and festival participants from across the Pacific and beyond to our beautiful state. FestPAC embodies the spirit of unity and diversity, and we hope it provided a memorable and enriching experience for all,” said Governor Green.

More than 2,200 delegates gathered for 10 days of cultural exchange, appreciation, and celebration at various venues across the island. In addition, there were 50-plus festival events free and open to the public, including opening and closing ceremonies, performances at the Festival Village, heritage dances, contemporary music performances, heritage arts demonstrations, visual arts exhibits, and more.

“We are one ‘ohana. We are here to celebrate, to share our knowledge, our culture, our traditions, and to honor our ancestors and the ancient wisdom, so that we can be custodians of the Pacific. We are the people of the Pacific, we are the soul of the Pacific,” added First Lady Jaime Kanani Green.

Primary FestPAC events included an opening ceremony with performances, speeches, and a parade of nations; an Ecumenical Service to unite attendees in reflection and prayer; a Festival Village at the Hawai‘i Convention Center featuring traditional heritage art demonstrations like kapa making, weaving, jewelry crafting, chanting, and dancing; and a closing ceremony to reflect and celebrate the festival’s conclusion.

Additional FestPAC events included art exhibits at Capitol Modern and the Hawai‘i Convention Center; a carving and tattoo showcase at the Bishop Museum; conferences, symposia, an expo at the Hawai‘i Convention Center; and a wa‘a community festival at Kualoa Regional Park. Heritage dance and music groups were featured at various venues across O‘ahu.

“For over 50 years, FestPAC has served as the primary stage for honoring and preserving Pacific arts and culture. It offers Hawai‘i a rare and unparalleled chance to exhibit our cultural legacy alongside our broader Pacific ‘ohana, nurturing a greater comprehension and respect for the collective identity of the Pacific,” said Aaron J. Salā, Ph.D., festival director of the 13th FestPAC.

The 25 Pacific Island nations that attended the 13th FestPAC were American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawai‘i, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, and Taiwan.

Since its inception in 1972, FestPAC has been an important venue for cultural conservation, revitalization, creativity, innovation, and diplomacy for the Pacific community. In collaboration with the Pacific Community and the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture, FestPAC takes place every four years in a different Pacific Island nation. Hawai‘i was originally scheduled to host FestPAC in 2020, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more about FestPAC, visit www.festpachawaii.org.