Join our membership so you can attend our language courses! All Italy lovers are welcome!

This Spring Course is "Conversazione con Libro di Ricette" (conversation with a cookbook). Sharpen your conversation skills and your reading comprehension with readings from a cookbook, restaurant menu, and activities. Each recipe will inspire a lively discussion, bring up new vocabulary words, and touch on grammatical issues. Each week prior to class, you will review assigned sections and exercises from the textbook Prego!, and prepare some talking points on a selected Italian recipe. We will use the class time to clarify questions, do a couple of exercises and especially read and speak together using the recipe and cultural contents.

INSTRUCTOR, Level 1 & 2: Iolanda Marinelli grew up in Italy where she received her Laurea Magistrale (M.A.) in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the University of Naples “L’Orientale”, and a Teaching Certification in English Secondary Education from Italy Department of Education. In 2006 she made Hawai’i her home. Here she began to teach Italian at Saint Anthony School in 2016, and in 2017 she completed her Hawai'i Certification as Substitute Teacher K-12. She continued to teach Italian and Spanish for the After School Malama Program at Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School, and Spanish at Kailua Elementary School. Iolanda also served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Hawai’i Association of Language Teachers as Italian Representative. In 2023 she left the Hawai'i Department of Education and started a new job in Contracts with the Naval Base, Pacific Command. She brings her experience working with children and adds fun to the Italian classes.

INSTRUCTOR, Level 3: Daniela Rocco Minerbi pursued classic studies at the Liceo Classico Berchet, earned a Fifth Year Piano Diploma at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, and obtained her Doctoral Degree in Architecture at the Polytechnical University in Milano. She taught Italian language and culture at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (UHM) and Kapiolani Community College outreach programs. At UHM, she also taught Painting in Italian and co-taught in Psychology, Architecture, and Peace studies. Daniela has organized peace seminars and is the co-author of the book “Macrohistory and Macrohistorians: Perspectives on Individual, Social, and Civilizational Change” (Galtung et al., 1997). As an artist, she has won prizes and awards, has had art exhibitions, and has been curator of several art shows in both Italy and Hawaii. She loves to perform piano four hands and two pianos. Daniela provides consulting services in Architectural Design.

LEVELS: Sign up for the class that you think fits you best. On the first day of class, you can try other levels and change class if you wish. In addition to your level, you can also audit other levels throughout the whole course (listening only, no talking :-).

• Beginner Level 1 (6-7:30pm): For students who have no or minimal grasp of the Italian language—we’ll cover up to chapter 3 of the book Prego (half chapter per week).
• Intermediate Level 2 (4:30-6pm): For students who have mastered all grammar and vocabulary of Level 1—we’ll cover chapters 4-9 of the book Prego (a chapter per week).
• Advanced Level 3 (6-7:30pm): For students who have mastered all grammar and vocabulary of Level 2—we’ll cover from chapter 10 to the end of the book Prego (a chapter per week) but mainly focus on conversation.

DATES: Every Thursday, April 11- May 30 (8 weeks). Pizza party optional on Tuesday June 4 at Brick Fire Tavern.

BOOK: "Prego!" 6th Edition, available online for $5 and up (make sure to buy the used version, stay away from the expensive new copies). Other editions are fine to use as well, but you may have a hard time finding correspondent pages.

PARKING: First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, 2500 Pali Highway, Honolulu. Abundant free parking on site. 

NOTE: *All students must be members, no guests are allowed, not even for Dual members.* The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is not responsible for any liability, cost, and damages which could arise from the programs; and does not provide any refunds, credits, swaps, except if it cannot deliver the program, for instance in the case of insufficient enrollment.

QUESTIONS: Please contact info@friendsofitalyhawaii.org.

Become a member so you can attend! All Italy lovers are welcome!

From June through August 2024, Italian language teachers offer private lessons to members who have completed one language course offered by Friends of Italy Hawaii. All teachers are native Italian speakers with Italian university degrees and teaching experience. Language, travel and culture are the core of this experiential learning approach.

Cost: $60 per hour for one student. Find a friend to join you for multi-student discounts: $50 per person per hour for two students or $40 per person per hour for three students. No additional discounts of any kind are possible.

Location: Manoa in Honolulu, as arranged by the teacher

Parking: Ample neighborhood parking

Supplies: Book: "Prego!" 6th Edition, available for $5+(make sure to buy the used version, stay away from the expensive new copies). Other editions are fine to use as well, but you may have a hard time finding correspondent pages.

Members: Login to register (directions for Logging In). Due to limited capacity, this event is for members who have attended at least 1 course with Friends of Italy Hawaii. All registrants must be members. Dual members may not bring guests to participate in language programs.

Note: Private lesson arrangements including cancellation policy are between student and tutor. 

Questions: Email us at info@friendsofitalyhawaii.org.

Become a member so you can attend this event! All Italy lovers are welcome!

Onda Pasta & Provisions and Fusion Café + Wine proudly present their most delicious endeavor exclusively for the members of Friends of Italy Hawaii with a delectable dinner that’s sure to delight. Join us for a three-course palate-pleasing menu: caprese with aged balsamic appetizer; entree options of ONDA Gnocchi with butter and parmigiano or ONDA Pappardelle starring wild mushroom and prosciutto; and affogato topped with matcha or espresso. A curated list of wines paired with this dinner extravaganza will be available by the glass or bottle for purchase.

Cost: $65 per person. Dual Members may bring one guest.

Parking: Ample street parking and parking lots in the neighborhood. Limited restaurant lot parking and ticket must be displayed in window.

Members: Login in order to receive discounted pricing (directions for Logging In).

Note: The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is not responsible for any liability, cost, and damages which could arise from this program. Refunds, credit, ticket swaps are not possible unless the program is canceled.

Questions: info@FriendsofItalyHawaii.org

Become a member so you can attend this event! All Italy lovers are welcome!

Join Professoressa Iolanda Marinelli for a casual coffee hour where members can practice reading and speaking Italian in an informal setting of a coffee shop. Newspapers and magazines will be provided or bring your own tablet. Make new friends and let’s learn together. Pausa Caffe’ is targeted at multiple levels but a minimum ability to contribute to the conversation is required, so that participants can enjoy talking with each other on a variety of topics taken from the magazines (provided by the host).

About Iolanda Marinelli
A native of Italy, Iole earned her Laurea Magistrale (M.A.) in Foreign Languages and Literatures from University of Naples “L’Orientale,” She received her Teaching Certification in English Secondary Education from Italy’s Department of Education. Since 2006, she has adopted Hawaii as her home and has taught Italian at Saint Anthony School, Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School and Kailua Elementary School. Iole has served three terms on Hawai’i Association of Language Teachers Board of Directors as the Italian Representative. Currently, she works in Contracting with the U.S. Navy Pacific Command. She’s loved by her students for her fun and spirited approach to teaching and her background in children’s education.  

RSVP: By a week prior to event. Maximum 10 attendees. Please commit 100% to the event to honor the teacher's time and others' wish to attend.

Location: Specific location in Aina Haina to be provided to registered guests.

Members: All attendees must be members, no guests are allowed, not even for Dual members. 

Note: The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is not responsible for any liability, cost, and damages which could arise from the programs; and does not provide any refunds, credits, swaps, except if it cannot deliver the program, for instance in the case of insufficient enrollment.

Questions: Email us at info@friendsofitalyhawaii.org.

Become a member so you can attend this event! All Italy lovers are welcome!

Join Professoressa Iolanda Marinelli for a casual coffee hour where members can practice reading and speaking Italian in an informal setting of a coffee shop. Newspapers and magazines will be provided or bring your own tablet. Make new friends and let’s learn together. Pausa Caffe’ is targeted at multiple levels but a minimum ability to contribute to the conversation is required, so that participants can enjoy talking with each other on a variety of topics taken from the magazines (provided by the host).

About Iolanda Marinelli
A native of Italy, Iole earned her Laurea Magistrale (M.A.) in Foreign Languages and Literatures from University of Naples “L’Orientale,” She received her Teaching Certification in English Secondary Education from Italy’s Department of Education. Since 2006, she has adopted Hawaii as her home and has taught Italian at Saint Anthony School, Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School and Kailua Elementary School. Iole has served three terms on Hawai’i Association of Language Teachers Board of Directors as the Italian Representative. Currently, she works in Contracting with the U.S. Navy Pacific Command. She’s loved by her students for her fun and spirited approach to teaching and her background in children’s education.  

RSVP: By a week prior to event. Maximum 10 attendees. Please commit 100% to the event to honor the teacher's time and others' wish to attend.

Location: Specific location in Kahala to be provided to registered guests.

Members: All attendees must be members, no guests are allowed, not even for Dual members. 

Note: The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is not responsible for any liability, cost, and damages which could arise from the programs; and does not provide any refunds, credits, swaps, except if it cannot deliver the program, for instance in the case of insufficient enrollment.

Questions: Email us at info@friendsofitalyhawaii.org.

Join our Caffe' Letterario for a discussion of award winning Dacia Maraini's latest novel “Chiara di Assisi: Elogio della disobbedienza” (In Praise of Disobedience: Clare of Assisi). You can read the Italian original edition or the English translation by Jane Tylus. You must have read the book to participate.

Novel: An author receives a mysterious e-mail begging her to tell the story of Clare of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian saint. At first annoyed by the request, the author begins to research Saint Clare and becomes captivated by her life. We too are transported into the strange and beautiful world of medieval Italy, witnessing the daily rituals of convent life. At the center of that life is Saint Clare, a subversive and compelling figure full of contradictions: a physically disabled woman who travels widely in her imagination, someone unforgivingly harsh to herself yet infinitely generous to the women she supervises, a practitioner of self-abnegation who nevertheless knows her own worth. A visionary who liberated herself from the chains of materialism and patriarchy, Saint Clare here becomes an inspirational figure for a new generation of readers. 

Author: Dacia Maraini is one of Italy’s most prominent contemporary authors. Her books have been translated into twenty-two languages and she has won the most prestigious Italian literature awards: the Formentor Prize for L'età del malessere (1963); the Premio Fregene for Isolina (1985); the Premio Campiello and Book of the Year Award for La lunga vita di Marianna Ucrìa (1990); and the Premio Strega for Buio (1999). In 2013, the documentary I Was Born Travelling about her life portrayed the story of her imprisonment in a concentration camp in Japan, to the legendary journeys around the world with her partner Alberto Moravia, her close friends Pier Paolo Pasolini and opera singer Maria Callas.

Location: In person in Honolulu. Registered guests will receive an email with address prior to the event. 

RSVP: A week prior to program.

Note: The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is not responsible for any liability, cost, and damages which could arise from the programs; and does not provide any refunds, except if it cannot deliver the program, for instance in the case of insufficient enrollment.

Questions: Email us at info@friendsofitalyhawaii.org.