How to Get To Pacific Festival of the Arts via USA

Greetings,

It's been my dream to attend the Pacific Festival of the Arts for many years now. I'm looking for advice traveling from the US/CA - w/my 13 y/o son. I had thought initially to combine a trip to/from Tahiti and see if we could board any private sailboats. It looks like Fiji or another port would be better. If anyone has any ideas on where I should get started with this itinerary, I'd be most appreciative. Travel Dates: July 1st- 24th. Pacific Festival of the Arts: July 1-14 2012.

We've traveled extensively throughout French Polynesia: Taumotu Archipelago, Austral Islands, Society Islands. Any thoughts on how the Solomons compare and the most beautiful beaches, lagoons would be appreciated. I am looking for rest, relaxation, beauty, and to enjoy the cultural festivities and gatherings of Pacific Island nations.

From the USA, you would need to travel via either Fiji or Australia (Brisbane) to get to Solomon Islands. There is very little likelihood of getting there from Tahiti. If you really want to be there for the festival,you might have left it too late to find an accommodation at reasonable rates. I would be looking for an accommodation available in Honiara before booking transport, as possible places are very limited.
Most of the festival events will be in Honiara and possibly Auki, Malaita, neither of which is really a beach destination. For that, you would need to travel further afield on Guadalcanal or Malaita, or to Central Province or Western Province.
I have never been to French Polynesia, so cannot really offer comparisons.

Air Tahiti Nui flies from USA to Tahiti and from Papeete to NZ. Seek out a deal with accommodation specials via the airline website or enquire from a Tahiti specialist travel agent located in CA.

Air NZ provides flights via the Cook Islands and on to NZ, if you are interested in this low-key Polynesian destination as a stop-over southbound to Auckland or Sydney. Air NZ has a weekly direct flight from LAX to Rarotonga (capital of the Cook Islands. Air NZ flies near daily from Rarotonga to Auckland, with a weekly direct service Rarotonga to Sydney.

What is the point of flying to New Zealand? It is further away from Honiara where the Festival is than Tahiti is, and has no direct flights there. New Zealanders flying to Honiara travel via Brisbane or Nadi and there are daily flights to Honiara from Brisbane (Solomon Airlines and Virgin), but only weekly Air Pacific flights from Nadi.
On the subject of Solomon Islands compared with Tahiti, Solomon Islands is Melanesian, with much bigger islands, and a much larger land area than the Polynesian countries.

Ozziegiraffe said on #3: New Zealanders flying to Honiara travel via Brisbane or Nadi and there are daily flights to Honiara from Brisbane (Solomon Airlines and Virgin), but only weekly Air Pacific flights from Nadi.

The option changing planes in Brisbane is better as you don't have to stay overnight in Brisbane.
Air Pacific has only one flight from Nadi to Honiara and it makes a stop in Port Vila before arriving to Honiara. However, Solomon Airways has some non-stop flights from Nadi to Honiara (operated -most of them- by Air Niugini). Take a look at the web of Solomon Airways for more info.