Your Insider Guide to Festa Italiana

Photo: Travis Okimoto, Courtesy of Festa Italiana

Salute! Festa Italiana returns to Kaka‘ako with a slate of Italian and Italian-inspired food vendors, music, art, cinema and even a showcase of Italian cars. Check out the new La Terrazza, a relaxed VIP option featuring a dedicated bar and bites on Saturday night. Learn where to park, what to eat, what to do and how to get in on the VIP experience.

Click to the info you want to explore:

• What It Is
• When and Where
• The Passaporto Italiano VIP Experience
• The Festa in Strada (Street Festival)
• Tips

What It Is

Festa Italiana first took place in 2017 and continued consecutively through 2019. After the pandemic, Festa Italiana returned in 2023—this year marks the sixth annual festival. At this food-centric event that celebrates the intersection between Hawai‘i and Italy through Italian-inspired experiences and flavors, the gathered vendors are all top-tier Hawai‘i and Italian businesses, restaurants and chefs.

The VIP experience and the street festival take place over two separate days: Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, respectively.

Photo: Travis Okimoto, Courtesy of Festa Italiana

When and Where

The Passaporto Italiano VIP Experience takes place on Friday, June 5, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Velocity Honolulu (888 Kapiolani Blvd.). This is a 21+ ticketed event featuring dishes from venerable Italian chefs and restaurants, a curation of Italian wines and cocktails and, of course, a selection of iconic Italian vehicles on display.

The free Festa Italiana street festival will take place the next day on Saturday, June 6, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. at Mother Waldron Park in Kaka‘ako. The street festival features food, music, art, games and cinema. Those seeking a spot to relax and enjoy a drink during the festival can check out the new La Terrazza VIP experience, featuring a private bar and exclusive bites.

Image: Courtesy of Festa Italiana

Where to Park

For the street festival, $6 validated parking is available at Waterfront Plaza. Visit the Festa Italiana info booth for validation.

How Much It Costs

Street Festival

Admission to the family-friendly street festival on Saturday is free! Bring both cash and credit card because payment options will vary by vendor. There will be an ATM available on site if people need to get cash.

Tickets to the La Terraza VIP section at the street festival are $40 per person pre-sale, $50 per person at the door. Pre-sale tickets are available for purchase online. Your ticket includes a glass of aperol spritz, a slice of specialty pizza created exclusively for Festa Italiana by Mad Pie, a Mad Pie cannoli and access to a dedicated bar with special offerings.

Passaporto Italiano VIP Experience

For the Passaporto Italiano VIP Experience on Friday, tickets start at $175 plus tax and are available for purchase online. The $175 “classico” tickets include nine food and dessert tastings from top-tier Italian chefs and restaurants and unlimited Italian wine, Menabrea beer and specialty cocktails. You’ll also get to admire Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati vehicles.

The next tier, the “mezza classe” tickets, cost $225 and give you access to valet parking, a separate check-in line and access to a VIP lounge with a special Reserva Menu featuring elevated bar offerings, in addition to the food, drinks and desserts available to the first ticketed tier.

The final tier, the “prima classe” tickets, cost $275 and include early entry at 5:30 p.m., a caviar and champagne experience, a reserved table and exclusive access to the Cantita Privata featuring free-flow wine tasting throughout the evening with a master sommelier, rotating premium Italian pours and guided yet flexible bar service, in addition to the food, drinks and dessert available to the other ticketed tiers.

Photo: Nikki Oka

What to Eat, Drink and Do at the Passaporto Italiano VIP Experience

Try culinary delights from Hawai‘i’s Italian chefs and restaurants and sip on a specially curated selection of Italian wines and custom cocktails all while admiring the beauty of the Italian exotic vehicles from iconic carmakers Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati. Enjoy musical performances by the Hawai‘i Opera Theatre and DJ Compose. Tickets are required.

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Featured restaurants:

• Arancino at The Kāhala
• Bocconcino
• Botanico Waikīkī
• Fig & Ginger
• MW Restaurant
• Quiora
• Taormina Sicilian Cuisine
• Tradition Coffee Roasters
• Il Gelato Hawai‘i

Photo: Courtesy of Festa Italiana

What to Eat, Drink and Do at the “Festa in Strada” – The Street Festival

• Shop authentic Italian and Italian-inspired cuisine and partake in a selection of Italian wines, Italian and local beer and traditional spirits.
• Enjoy live entertainment and street performers and try your hand at Italian-inspired carnival games and photo ops.
• A dedicated Keiki Area sponsored by the Kaiāulu ‘o Kaka‘ako Owners Association (KOKA) will feature kid-friendly games and activities, as well as a free keiki food dish from Old Spaghetti Factory for the first 200 children (ages 10 and under).
• Check out a display of luxury Italian cars from brands like Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari.
• Over at the artist’s corner, you can view local artists and their artwork—they will also be live painting on site.
• The Hawai‘i International Film Festival (HIFF) will also be showing the 1940 Disney animated classic Pinocchio and the 1988 Italian coming-of-age drama Cinema Paradiso.
• Stop by the Hawai‘i Literacy Bookmobile, explore books and literacy-related activities and learn more about the program bringing free access to books and educational materials to communities across O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island.
• Join Stargazers of Hawai‘i for a special Galileo-themed stargazing event with chances to spot Venus, Jupiter, and Galileo’s famous “Galilean moons,” weather permitting.

Food Vendors:

• Allegrini Mozzarella
• Aloha Pizzeria
• Andrea Onetti – The Gluten Master
• Arancino Ristorante Italiano
• Aroma Italia
• Bambino’s
• Cialoha Italian Sodas
• Diamond Head Drip
• Fig & Ginger
• Forno Romano
• Il Gelato Hawai‘i
• Little Sparrow
• Mad Pie
• Mamma Mia Olay
• Memoirs Hawai‘i
• Roti-Si
• Sage Creamery
• Zucchi

Entertainment:

• The Royal Hawaiian Band
• Hawai‘i Youth Symphony
• Ballet Hawai‘i
• Hawai‘i Opera Theatre
• Mike Lewis and Band

Photo: Jen May Pastores, Courtesy of Festa Italiana

Tips:

• For the street festival, consider arriving early to beat the crowds.
• Wear a hat and apply sunscreen as it can still be sunny in the late afternoon.
• If you’re planning to drink at the VIP event (unlimited wine!), arrange for a designated driver or use a rideshare option.

Festa Italiana, VIP Experience on Friday, June 5, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Velocity Honolulu, Street Festival on Saturday, June 6, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. at Mother Waldron Park, festaitalianahawaii.com, @festaitaliana

Alexander Pang is a contributor to HONOLULU Magazine.