The “World’s Largest Family Gathering” ended with a joyful closing ceremony

After 10 days of culture, tradition and family bonding, the “World’s Largest Family Gathering” and celebration of Pacific Indigenous culture came to a close last night in Hawaii with a moving and low-key closing ceremony.

Chairman Kalani Ka’ana’ana welcomed FestPAC delegates to the Honolulu Convention Center one last time and said he was “full of gratitude for the spirit each of you brought to the festival.”

He also reminded attendees that they have a vital role to play in preserving Pacific culture and traditions.

He borrowed the sentiment from the last FestPAC and said: “We must not become a generation that is too reverent to its predecessors and fails to carry forward their great traditions.”

“How do we make sure that we can maintain the momentum that we feel here, the unity that we feel here, the aloha that we feel here?

“We laughed, we cried, we jumped, we sat, we did almost everything. We lived.”

Festival director Aaron J Sala told the crowd before the festival began that between 60,000 and 100,000 people were expected to attend the event over the 10 days.

“By the second day of the festival, there were more than 100,000 people attending the festival at the convention center alone,” he said.

Pacific Council for Arts and Culture President Emile Kailua invited all attendees and Pacific Islanders around the world to start planning their journey to the 14th FestPAC in New Caledonia in 2028.

Cook Islands Department of Cultural Development Secretary Kailua said: “We will return to our home islands to recharge and return to FestPAC 14. Let us work together to make the next family gathering in 2028 the biggest and best yet.”

After two weeks of exhilarating performances, the craftsmanship of skilled craftsmen, reunions with the crew of the Vaka Marumaru Atua, thought-provoking workshops and heartfelt connections with Pacific delegates, the first 23 exhausted members of the Cook Islands team returned home on Saturday evening.

This team of artisans and performers boarded the Hawaiian Airlines flight with a new sense of pride and inspiration as they represented and promoted the beloved Cook Islands with dedication and passion.

Leading the returning delegation was Cook Islands New Zealand Consul General Keu Mataroa and his wife Tangi, who were delighted and proud of the whole team’s dedication.

Tauranga Provincial Minister George “Maggie” Angene received the group at Rarotonga Airport, followed by a prayer and brief closing remarks.

The rest of the Cook Islands FestPAC delegation is currently in Waikiki and will return home this Saturday.

• ABC Pacific/Melina Etches