The Cook Islands huts at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) are proving popular, with most crafts selling out on Friday, the first day of the Festival Village at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center in Honolulu.

Weavers at the Cook Islands stall in the Festival Village were kept busy replenishing their stocks as customers eagerly filled in to purchase more crafts.

Ura Tangaroa at her stall in the Festival Village. FestPac Cook Islands 2024/24060908

Ura Tangaroa said they had sold out of cushion covers and tivaivai wall hangings on Thursday.

“This festival has been awesome, we have met a lot of lovely people and made a lot of new friends, and we are busy,” said Tangaroa.

Tereapii Ardmore Manu from Atiu is an expert in creating craftwork in the particular “pare” (ei katu) from the “ava” tree bark.

“In Atiu we have a lot of women who are experts at making our pare ei from the ava tree,” said Manu.

“We also make garments which we have used in our Atiu 200 years of the Gospel celebrations last year and in our Te Maeva Nui.”

Renowned creative Tuaine “Katu” Teiti has started his painting on the theme of FestPAC which will be gifted to Hawai’i. FestPac Cook Islands 2024/24060904

Also in the Festival Village is renowned creative Tuaine “Katu” Teiti who has started his painting on the theme of FestPAC which will be gifted to Hawai’i.

“Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania” is the theme of FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, honouring the traditions that FestPAC exists to perpetuate with an eye toward the future.

Although the dim lighting inside the Festival Village is hindering his work, Teiti is making gradual progress on his art piece.

He said new ideas keep popping up for his art piece, and he will have the art completed next Friday. 

The artisans will be back at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center today for the rest of the week.

Cook Islands drummers perform at the Sister City Agreement signing on Friday. Michiko Moore/24060905

The Cook Islands delegation attended the festival church service at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Stan Sherrif Centre Stadium yesterday.

Team Cook Islands is very popular in Honolulu and has received raving comments from locals about the team’s “brilliant shows and costumes” including the “stunning” Tav uniforms.

The Festival Village comprise of more than 20 hale (home), one for each participating nation to serve as the primary location for cultural exchange.

The Cook Islands National Arts Theatre dancers perform at the Sister City Agreement signing on Friday. Michiko Moore/24060906

According to Hawaii News Now, cultural practitioners demonstrate weaving, traditional cloth, weaponry, fishhooks, adornment, and more at the Festival Village. Other key features of the Festival Village include Mauloa, the 29-foot long single-hull coastal sailing canoe, an interactive immersive experience, and a 60-foot Star Compass.

Within the Festival Village is the main FestPAC performance stage, where all 27 nations perform their heritage dance, contemporary music, choral singing, fashion shows, and more, throughout the 13^th FestPAC.

The FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024 will end on June 16.

• Melina Etches in Honolulu