Festa Italiana spotlights culture, food

Just about everyone loves Italian food, but Italian culture offers even more that is worthy of celebrating.

That’s why the Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii will stage its inaugural Festa Italiana on Saturday in Kakaako.

“Our club has been in Hawaii since 1990, and since then there has not been, to my knowledge, an Italian festival event before,” said Zach DiIonno, event director.

The club’s members decided it was about time for the Friends of Italy to share Italian culture with the community, above and beyond food.

DiIonno recently was in Italy and saw street performers, street artists and “all sorts of things that give you that feeling that you’re in a special place,” he said. “At the Festa we’re trying to bring traditional Italian music, modern music, street painters and street performers. Italian culture is an expression of life, and that comes out through arts, music and food.”

The Festa will have two components: a free-access street festival with mobile food vendors, and “Passaporto Italiano,” a VIP experience in Wade Warehouse at 449 Cooke St. for those 21 and older.

Food vendors were asked to keep their prices at $8 or less at the street festival so Festa-goers could taste dishes from multiple vendors that will include Bevy, Brick Fire Tavern, Bethel Union and JJ Dolan’s, Crepes Hawaii, Il Gelato Hawaii and Island Olive Oil Co.

Additionally, attendees who buy a commemorative, collectible pin for a nominal price will receive a $1 discount on a designated dish from each vendor, DiIonno said.

Hawaii Youth Symphony, Hawaii Opera Theatre and contemporary musicians will perform at the event.

To help alleviate parking strain, Biki will provide additional bicycles and attendants for festivalgoers’ convenience.

“This is something we definitely want to become an annual event,” DiIonno said.

“Passaporto” participants will savor dishes from restaurants including Maui’s Matteo’s Osteria and Sale Pepe, and from Oahu, Flavors of Italy Hawaii, Hawaiian Aroma Caffe, Island Olive Oil, Noe at Four Seasons Resort Oahu, Taormina Sicilian Cuisine and Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar. Velocity, a dealer of exotic Italian cars and motorcycles, will have them on display.

Admission to the VIP event is $100; tickets are available online.