Hawaiʻi has no shortage of authentic Asian food, but do locals know where to find real Italian cuisine? (Hint: We’re not talking about pepperoni pizza or chicken parm.) By putting on Festa Italiana, the first-ever event of its kind in the Islands on Oct. 7, the Friends of Italy Society of Hawaiʻi hopes the answer to that question will soon be a resounding “sì!”

Honolulu’s Festa Italiana in Strada, or the street festival, is the first part of the event. Attendees can purchase authentic Italian and Italian-inspired dishes while enjoying live entertainment.