HONOLULU – The 41st Pan-Pacific Festival, a celebration of cultural traditions of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Rim, has been canceled out of an abundance of caution regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. With uncertainty regarding the duration of social-distancing and the long-term effects of the pandemic on gatherings and events, festival organizers have decided to cancel the event.

“We’ve been paying very close attention to what’s happening in Hawaii as this constantly evolving situation continues to unfold. After the spring festival cancelations, we’ve begun to see more summer events being canceled or postponed, and we decided it was time to make a decision regarding the Pan-Pacific Festival this year,” said Christine Kubota, Advisory Committee Chair.

The international cultural celebration was originally scheduled for the weekend of June 12 through 14, with three days of music, dance, food, crafts, and cultural arts hosted at various sites throughout Waikīkī. The festival creates a more global community by bringing people together through the celebration of diverse cultures. 

“As much as it saddens us to not be able to share this unique cultural exchange with Hawai‘i residents and visitors this June, safety is always our top priority. We want to support all efforts of the County and State to keep our communities safe,” Kubota said.

Festival organizers want to thank everyone involved with the preparations of the festival to date, including partners, sponsors, vendors, and participants for their patience and support, and they look forward to bringing this spectacular event to Waikīkī next year.
Support provided by Hawai‘i Tourism through the Community Enrichment Program
# # # # #