The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture hosted in Hawaiʻi, kicked off on 6-16 June 2024 – with a 50 year heritage with 2,200 delegates from more than 28 partcipating nation Delegations , including Australia 1st Nations People.
(Image: Courtesy of S360 Hawaiʻi)
The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, Pacific Arts Festival, or FestPAC is a traveling festival hosted every four years, in the same year as the Summer Olympics, by a different country in Oceania. Hawaiʻi is honored to host this dynamic showcase of Oceanic arts and culture in June 2024.
The South Pacific Arts Festival Council, as the Council was initially named, was established at a meeting organised by SPC in Noumea in 1975 on cultural affairs of the region.
The 13th FestPAC in Hawaiʻi (6-16 June 2024) is guided by foundational values of preservation and revival, exploration, awareness, unity and Indigenous languages. For more than 40 years, The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture has been an important venue for the perpetuation of Pacific arts and cultures. Preserving and revival of traditional arts and cultures of the Pacific, Exploring new forms of cultural activities suited to the needs of the Pacific, Creating greater awareness of the cultural richness of the Pacific throughout the world, Fostering a greater sense of unity throughout the Pacific to promote excellence in arts, and promoting the development and use of ethnic [indigenous] languages.
FestPAC is held every four years that rotates across the Pacific Islands. | Courtesy of Steve Hardy
Last week in Hawaii, the Pacific Climate Warriors joined the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, and many other sons and daughters of Oceania, to reimagine what a world beyond fossil fuels could look like. The risk of a renewable energy transition that isn’t grounded in the wellbeing of communities is apparent in the scramble for resources that plagues our islands. Nickel mines and deep sea nodules paint dollar signs in the eyes of neo colonial powers, and the “Just Transition” risks being co-opted as an excuse to extract.
350 Pacific is the Pacific arm of 350.org that supports frontline communities affected by the climate crisis throughout the Pacific region and Diaspora communities in Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
“Being a Pacific Climate Warrior is being someone you hope your grandchildren could be proud of. It’s being committed to a movement fighting for climate justice because of the love you have for your islands and future generations. Being a warrior is being someone who is motivated by love and justice”. Brianna Fruean
The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture has been held since 1972. | Courtesy Eric Chang
While many costumes or cultural items are made with plant material (such as leaves, flowers, seeds, and wood) or animal (feathers, bone, leather, etc.) products, those items may require screening, a permit, or additional paperwork for entry- United States Department of Agriculture.
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Perpetuating Pacific Culture for 50 years
The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. The South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community – SPC) launched this dynamic showcase of arts and culture in 1972 to halt the erosion of traditional practices through ongoing cultural exchange. It is a vibrant and culturally enriching event celebrating the unique traditions, artistry, and diverse cultures of the Pacific region. FestPAC serves as a platform for Pacific Island nations to showcase their rich heritage and artistic talents.
The roots of FestPAC trace back to the 1970s when Pacific Island nations commenced discussion on the need to preserve and promote their unique cultural identities. The hope was to create a space where Pacific Islanders could convene to share their traditional arts, crafts, music, dance, and oral traditions with the world. This initiative was driven by the desire to strengthen cultural bonds among Pacific Island communities and foster a greater understanding of their cultures.
