HONOLULU (KHON2) -- The world's largest celebration of Indigenous Pacific Islanders has officially started.
On Wednesday morning, FestPAC's first cultural protocol began in windward O'ahu.
Wake Up 2Day's Chris Latronic joined Kualoa Regional Park with Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Governor Josh Green and First Lady Jaime Gree, HTA's Chief Brand Officer Kalani Ka'ana'ana, Festival Director Aaron J Sala, Director of FestPAC Operations Makanani Sala, Master Navigator Chad Paishon, 'Ohana Wa'a Pomai Bertelmann, and Waipa "Chuck" Andrus from Kaneohe to witness this historic ceremony.
The ceremony involved delegates from Pacific nations arriving by traditional canoes and boats to Kualoa.
The traditional sailing boats sailed from Marine Corps Base Hawaii to Kualoa Beach Park where they moored offshore.
Double hull canoes then paddled out to the boats to bring the delegations to shore, which were met and welcomed by hundreds with cultural protocol on the beach.
FestPAC will run from June 6 to June 16 and will include more than 2,200 delegates including artists, cultural practitioners, scholars, and officials from 27 nations.
The 10-day festival will feature more than 50 programs and events including conferences and symposia, live performances, cultural workshops, hands-on demonstrations, films, storytelling and more.
To learn more, visit FestPAC Hawaii's website.