The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu will feature cultural performances from various Pacific nations as one of the venues for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC), the world’s largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders taking place June 6 to 16 at multiple venues across Oʻahu. The FestPAC opening and closing ceremonies will be held at UH Mānoa in the Stan Sheriff Center.
The events at UH West Oʻahu will be held 3–8 p.m. on Monday, June 10, and Thursday, June 13, and will showcase performers from nations including Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Taiwan, French Polynesia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Guam, and Wallis and Futuna.
“We’re looking forward to having the UH West Oʻahu campus serve as one of our performance venues for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture,” said FestPAC director Aaron J. Salā, who is also a program director at UH West Oʻahu. “We encourage the public to attend these free events, and we hope to provide a welcoming and inclusive space for residents and visitors to celebrate and immerse themselves in this important celebration of culture and arts.”
UH West Oʻahu guests are invited to bring mats and small beach/lawn chairs, and spread out across the Campus Courtyard (between buildings C, D and E). Da Spot will be open for food, and snacks and drinks will also be sold at the Outdoor Learning Space. No coolers or alcohol, please.
Tentative schedule of UH West Oʻahu performances
Monday, June 10
3 p.m.—Hawaiʻi: UH West Oʻahu Welcome
3:30 p.m.—Australia
4:30 p.m.—The Federated States of Micronesia
5:30 p.m.—Taiwan
6:30 p.m.—Wallis and Futuna
Thursday, June 13
3 p.m.—Hawaiʻi: UH West Oʻahu Welcome
3:30 p.m.—French Polynesia
4:30 p.m.—Niue
5:30 p.m.—Norfolk Island
6:30 p.m.—Guam
FestPAC events at UH Mānoa
The FestPAC opening ceremony will be held at the Stan Sheriff Center on June 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. The Sheriff Center will also host the ecumenical service on Sunday, June 9 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and the closing ceremony on Sunday, June 16 from 3 to 5 p.m.
UH Mānoa is also providing on campus housing for about 1,600 FestPAC delegates during the festival, and UH President David Lassner is hosting a Pacific Higher Education Summit on June 10 and 11 at the East-West Center.
Hoʻoulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania
The theme selected for the 13th FestPAC is Hoʻoulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania. Hoʻoulu lāhui means “to grow the nation.”
The 10-day islandwide festival will bring together more than 2,500 delegates—artists, cultural practitioners, scholars and officials—from 28 Pacific nations, such as American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
More than 50 programs and events, including a Festival Village and Marketplace at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, conferences and symposia, live performances, cultural workshops, hands-on demonstrations, films, storytelling and more, will promote cultural exchange, appreciation and celebration.
For more information about FestPAC, visit www.festpachawaii.org/. Learn more about FestPAC events at www.festpachawaii.org/performance-schedule.
