Pacific Ambiguity: – Island Times

Michael Lujan Bevacqua

HONOLULU (Pacific Island Times) — The focus of the Pacific Arts Festival (FestPac) has always been culture, and the 13th edition of FestPac in Hawaii in June 2024 will be no exception.

More than 20 island nations sent delegations of dancers, singers, sculptors, poets and other cultural artists to Oahu for 10 days of cultural performances, exchanges and displays. The event attracted tens of thousands of people, and the number of viewers on live broadcasts and social media around the world may reach millions. The size of each delegation ranged from a dozen to several hundred people.

Since it was first established in 1972, FestPac has been a space for Pacific peoples to showcase their culture, while also discussing and responding to the larger forces that affect them individually and collectively, sometimes in difficult ways. FestPac was founded out of concern about the loss of culture in the Pacific as a result of the rapid changes that occurred in the Pacific during the 20th century, both from colonization and modernization.

These concerns remain, but the 13th Pacific Islands Summit also highlighted new threats and fears that are unfortunately all too common among Pacific Island peoples. Climate change, rising sea levels and warming waters are already threatening the habitability of many Pacific Islands, as evidenced by statements made during the opening ceremony’s parade of nations.

But other issues loomed large, directly affecting the festival and the lives of many delegates. Yet, as the focus of discussion, these issues were pushed to the margins of the Honolulu Convention Center.

Militarization and colonization remain powerful forces that directly impact the lives of many Pacific Islanders, and systems of power continue to dictate their realities. In Guam, this discussion is fairly common, as our relationship with the United States is deeply influenced by our strategic value and status as an unincorporated territory.

At FestPac 2024, attention was focused on the empty house in the corner of the festival village, originally allocated to the Kanaks (New Caledonia) but left empty after their delegation withdrew due to unrest on the island. This year, France attempted to change the electoral law to weaken the power of the indigenous Kanaks, leading to violence. Their empty house became a space of solidarity, where people hung flags and banners to show support. People held ceremonies to show solidarity with the Kanaks who continue to fight for self-determination.

Indeed, FestPac itself is a mixture of political and territorial ambiguity, some of which are still clearly colonies by the United Nations definition. Of the islands participating in FestPac, six (American Samoa, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Guam, Pitcairn and Tokelau) remain on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, which the United Nations reminds the world must assist in achieving true self-government.

But there are places in the Pacific where colonial ties may still exist, just under different names. Norfolk Island is ruled by Australia, which has weakened local governance in recent years. Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, was one of the most visible and memorable delegations at recent FestPac conferences. Their island is home to only about 8,000 people and is ruled by Chile.

In recent decades, the island’s indigenous people have been increasingly demanding greater autonomy and cultural rights. The festival was attended by several activists from West Papua who, in addition to seeking self-determination and decolonization, hope to find cultural solidarity and identity as fellow Melanesians with others from the region.

Taiwan is sometimes called the cradle of Austronesian civilization, and Taiwan’s indigenous peoples have been participating in FestPac since 2004, always marked with an asterisk.

The island’s indigenous groups, who share Austronesian cultural and linguistic ties with most other FestPac participants, have their own huts in the festival village and can participate in performances, but they are not considered full members of FestPac. Whether they are invited and included as special participants remains at the discretion of the host country, but their full inclusion is still tied to larger geopolitical dynamics, such as China’s sovereignty claims over the island.

The larger geopolitical dynamics of the United States, China and other countries vying for influence in the region will surely affect FestPac. But this aspect is well known but not widely discussed during the conference.

During the opening ceremony, the Marshall Islands delegation spoke about the history of U.S. nuclear testing on the islands, but the ongoing militarized system that has resulted in shooting ranges in the sky over Litkian and contaminated water at Red Mountain in Hawaii was forgotten in certain “politically focused” corners of FestPac.

During the closing ceremony, a coordinated demonstration took place as Hawaii’s governor spoke. Banners were hung around the Sheriff Stan Center with slogans such as “Liberate Kanaki,” “Liberate West Papua” and “Cancel RIMPAC,” the latter referring to the large-scale U.S. military training exercise held every two years in Hawaii. After the banners were lowered, everyone chanted a short, powerful slogan in unison.

Some members of the Guam delegation, frustrated that the Governor had not engaged the massive forces threatening our island and our people at such a powerful gathering of Pacific peoples, took advantage of the Governor’s continued speech to chant slogans in protest.

It was a divisive moment, one that divided even the Guam delegation. Some members felt it was an important moment to speak their truth, while others felt it was disrespectful and the wrong time. As the governor concluded his remarks, the host took a moment to rebuke the Guam delegation, noting that these topics have a time and place to be discussed at FestPac, but now is not the right time.

As sea levels continue to rise, militaries on both sides of the Pacific continue to grow and encroach on our islands, and our quest for decolonization is no longer getting any younger, one can only wonder when is the right time and the right place to discuss these issues at FestPac… PACNEWS

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