HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) kicked off Thursday with opening ceremonies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
SPECIAL SECTION: FestPAC
It kicks off the festivities of the world’s largest celebration of indigenous peoples of the Pacific Islands.
FestPAC brings together artists, cultural practitioners, academics, public servants and the general public from the Pacific Islands and beyond.
Watch FestPAC festivities live, get a live stream schedule and our ongoing coverage by clicking here.
There will be a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band and an official parade of nations representing the 27 nations participating in FestPAC.
There will also be a formal gift exchange between the visiting delegations and the host delegation from Hawaii, as well as musical performances with select 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 Pacific nations.
FestPAC will also take place at various locations across Oahu, including the Hawaii Convention Center which will serve as a major event hub and the Bishop Museum.
Here’s what’s happening on Friday June 7:
| Event | Time, location, description |
|---|---|
| Opening of the Festival Village | Hawaii Convention Center — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Festival Village will be made up of more than 20 hales, one for each participating nation, and will serve as the primary venue for cultural exchange. Cultural practitioners will demonstrate weaving, traditional fabrics, weapons, fishing hooks, ornaments and much more. Other key features of the Festival Village include Mauloa, the 29-foot-long monohull 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 the 27 nations will present heritage dance, contemporary music, choral singing, fashion shows and much more, throughout the 10 days. |
| Sister City Signing | Hawaii Convention Center — 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The City and County of Honolulu will proceed with a sister city signing with Rarotonga, Cook Islands. |
| Sculpture and tattoo demonstrations | Bishop Museum — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The carving demonstration will include Hoe Uli (large steering paddle), Kiʻi Kanaloa or ocean god (Taʻaroa, Tangaroa, Tangaloa) and Waʻa Kaulua (double-hulled canoe). Indigenous tattoo artists from various Pacific countries will proudly showcase their heritage art and share their techniques. |
| Pa’u fashion showcase | Hawaii Convention Center — 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) On behalf of the 13th FestPAC, Manaola Yap curated an exclusive fashion showcase that celebrates the shared stories, practices and arts that connect our diverse heritages. The fashion showcase will include runway shows by Nakeʻu Awai, Lotus and Lime and MANAOLA, artisanal designs by Nalani Kanakaʻole and Taupōuri Tangarō, and a cultural demonstration by Hālau Kekuhi. |
| PILINA Opening Event: FestPAC 50th Anniversary Exhibition | Capitole Moderne — 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 a selection of cultural heritage objects. |
Current daily events:
- The Festival Village will be open daily at the Hawaii Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sculpture and tattoo demonstrations will be available daily at the Bishop Museum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The FestPAC 50th Anniversary Exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Capitol Modern.
- Renowned artists from various nations will present traditional dances, music and contemporary performances daily on different stages across O’ahu. Venues will include Ala Moana Center, Kawaiaha’o Church, Our Kaka’ako, Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort (Kani Ka Pila Grille), Pālama Settlement, Polynesian Cultural Center, Royal Hawaiian Center, University of Hawai’i – West O’ahu, Waikiki Beach Walk and Windward Mall.
Although the events are free, attendees will need to register through eTicket Hawaii.
FestPAC will take place on Oahu until June 16.
For more information on the festival, click here.
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