Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, also known as FESTPAC, the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders, recently took place. This dynamic showcase of arts and culture was launched by the South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community – SPC) in 1972 to preserve traditional practices through cultural exchange. The 13th FESTPAC festival was held this year in the beautiful island of Hawai’i, spanning from June 6 to June 16.
Over 2,200 delegates from across the Pacific gathered at the Hawaii Convention Center Festival Village and other venues on Oahu for this 10-day event. It served as a unifying platform for Pasifika, featuring daily cultural performances from various Oceania island groups across stages in Hawaii. a such as cinema and digital art.
FestPAC celebrates Pacific island nations’ rich heritage and artistic talents, originating from discussions in the 1970s among Pacific Island nations on the importance of preserving their cultural identities. The event brought together diverse arts including music, dance, chants, and more, highlighting the beauty of the Pacific islands and nations.
The festival concluded with the theme “Ho’oulu Lahui — Regenerating Oceania — 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, Hawai’i 2024,” marking a highly successful two-week gathering. Looking forward, the next FestPac is scheduled for New Caledonia in 2028. Catch up on more via @festpachawaii!
