The 13th Festival of the Pacific Arts and Culture, or FestPac 2020, has been postponed due to concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak.
FestPac 2020 was set to take place in Hawaii for 11 days in June. Although there have been no cases of COVID-19 in both Hawaii and Guam, the Hawaii organizers stressed the priority of the health and safety of the state’s residents and all festival participants in a statement released earlier today.
Director of Chamorro Affairs and Guam FestPac Chairwoman Ann Marie Arceo says that the committee expected the postponement to be a possibility.
“The officials didn’t tell us but there were rumors going around. I can say that we were anticipating that we wouldn’t be surprised if it was going to be postponed or canceled altogether. We just want the best. Right now, with the coronavirus, there is nothing more important than protecting our health and ensuring the wellbeing of our people,” Arceo said.
Despite being disappointed by the rescheduling, Arceo says that this postponement gives organizers and delegates more time to prepare.
“This is just going to give us more time to plan. And I know that with Hawaii, they’re our brother island, I know that things have been rough with them. And sister islands have to support their brother islands, so it’s good for them. They will have more time to prepare now,” Arceo said.
The Hawaii committee is scheduled to meet this Friday to determine how to move forward.
According to Senator Kelly Marsh-Taitano, one of the organizers of Guam’s FestPac delegation, Guam’s committee will convene following the results of the Hawaii meeting. Rescheduled dates for FestPac 2020 are forthcoming.
##
