'We heard the call and we came': FestPac opens in grand Pacific style

It was an explosion of Pacific culture, costume and chants.

The University of Hawai’i Stadium lit up with the colours and sounds from every corner of the Pacific ocean for the official opening of the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture.

The ground shook as the indigenous people of Hawai’i, kanaka maoli, opened the festivities, calling and welcoming a crowd of almost 10,000 people at the Stan Sheriff Stadium. Feet stomping, bodies tilting, their movements synchronised and strong as they heralded the gathering of 28 Pacific nations.

Hawai'i opens the festivities. Photo/PMN News

Taiwan was a new addition to the festival lineup, and their placement as the first nation to appear could be seen as a bold political statement. But the crowd didn’t care, cheering at their lunging scissor movements as they danced in a circle, bells jingling.

Hawai’i’s governor Josh Green was there with his wife, Jaime Kanani Green who has indigenous heritage. They were bestowed with necklaces and customary gifts from each nation, the leis and ula fala piled up to their ears by the end of the night.

French Polynesia (Marquesas Islands). Photo/PMN News

The crowd was pumped for each group, but when Tonga came out, the screaming began. You could feel the wind from the flags in the crowd, and people stormed out of their seats and filled the aisles. The delegation unveiled a tapa more than 20 metres long, presenting it as a gift to the State of Hawai’i.

Papua New Guinea. Photo/PMN News

Papua New Guinea arrived with guttural chants, plumed headdresses and bold painted bodies. The First Nations peoples of Australia performed with shunting, shuffling movements as the didgeridoo sounded.

Aotearoa New Zealand arrived with their paddles, their movements propelling them around the stage, a moving waka of people. The acknowledged Kiingi Tuheitia and the late monarchy of Hawai’i, a shared history of noble families and tribal unity.

Samoa brought the fire and celebrity, with a siva afi performer and Miss Pacific Islands 2024 Moemoana Safa'ato'a Schwenke. American Samoa stood in their seats to acknowledge their national ties and bond as Samoa performed.

Fiji only had a portion of their group due to making room on Fiji Airways flights so other delegations could arrive. There were only seven dancers but they had the energy of a hundred.

Norfolk Islands. Photo/PMN News

There were significant showings from nations less familiar to many, but you could sense the excitement and curiosity from the audience as they picked up on familiar words and movements. Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Norfolk Island with their woven hats and Cook Island-style ura. Wallis and Futuna arrived bearing tapa and tilted their heads when dancing, tau’olunga style.

The Marshall Islands brought the party, bringing the crowd to their feet as they danced out the door. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands danced with the flags draped across their shoulders.

Many delegations included high chiefs and government leaders were there too, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown summing it up, saying “we heard the call, and we came.”

Festpac 2024 is from June 7-16 in Honolulu.

View the livestream here:

Quick reference:

1:04:04 .................. Taiwan

1:12:36 .................. Guam

1:20:02 .................. Wallis and Futuna

1:38:05 .................. Tuvalu

1:53:32 .................. Tonga

2:11:08 .................. Tokelau

2:20:24 .................. Solomon Islands

2:28:48 .................. Samoa

2:51:35 .................. Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

3:12:28 .................. Papua New Guinea

3:29:00 .................. Palau

3:39:29 .................. CNMI (Rota, Tinia, Guguan and Saipan)

3:52:25 .................. Norfolk Island

4:07:18 .................. Niue

4:19:34 .................. Aotearoa (New Zealand)

4:37:24 .................. Nauru

4:47:09 .................. Marshall Islands

4:59:48 .................. Kiribati

5:18:52 .................. Tahiti (French Polynesia)

5:40:59 .................. Fiji

5:55:53 .................. Federated States of Micronesia or FSM (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae)

6:23:32 .................. Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

6:51:36 .................. Australia

7:04:42 .................. American Samoa