Hawaii
Guaiqueri Empanadas brings Venezuelan flavors to Hawaii
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Venezuelans across the world are closely watching their country’s presidential elections this July 28, including a couple in Honolulu who’ve brought the traditional cuisine of their homeland to Hawaii.
Originally from an indigenous community on Margarita Island in Venezuela, Omarlys Fernandez, and her husband Jurian Rojas, moved to Hawaii 13 years ago. During the pandemic, they started making empanadas at home and delivering them to customers, creating Guaiqueri Empanadas.
They joined HNN’s Sunrise to show how they make their signature empanadas using Venezuelan flour and filling them with various ingredients, including cod, plantains, black beans, chicken and more. It’s served with a traditional Venezuelan guasacaca sauce, with green bell peppers, cilantro, onions and garlic.
“We wanted our kids to feel close to our roots as indigenous people,” Fernandez said. “During the pandemic, we saw an opportunity to share our culture through our food.”
Beyond their renowned empanadas, Guaiqueri Empanadas serves up a variety of specialties such as arepas, chicha and cocada drinks, and soon-to-be-launched Venezuelan bowls featuring rice, protein, sweet plantains, and arepa.
Guaiqueri Empanadas has become a local favorite, known for its dedication to quality and authenticity.
Through pop-up events across the island, Fernandez and Rojas engage with the community, offering not just a meal, but an experience that connects diners with the essence of Venezuelan culture.
For Fernandez and Rojas, Guaiqueri Empanadas is a labor of love — an endeavor that goes beyond business to celebrate their heritage and foster cultural exchange.
Discover Guaiqueri Empanadas and their upcoming events in Honolulu by visiting their website at guaiqueriempanadas.com for more information.
Follow them on Instagram @Guaiqueri_empanadas.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
American Red Cross assisting displaced family after 2-alarm fire
WAIMANALO (HawaiiNewsNow) – The American Red Cross is assisting a family Thursday after a two-alarm fire was extinguished in Waimanalo.
The Honolulu Fire Department responded to Oluolu Street at about 3 a.m., staffed with 10 units and 39 personnel.
The first unit arrived at about 3:15 a.m. to find a working fire at a two-story residential building. No one was inside.
Flames and smoke were coming from the garage, said HFD. A hazmat team was dispatched to secure a 125-pound LPG tank that was exposed.
The fire was under control at 4 a.m. and fully extinguished at about 4:15 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced family.
An investigation is underway to determine what caused the fire and damage estimates.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
Hawaii
Hawaii Water Polo enters Big West Championship as number 1 seed
The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Water Polo Team has secured the number 1 seed in the Big West Championship Tournament.
“I think everyone understands the importance of the tournament and, what we want to do,” said Hawaii Junior Daisy Logtens.
Hawaii enters the tournament 13-5 overall and 6-0 in conference play.
UH will open up the conference tournament against 8th seed UC Santa Barbara. UH recently defeated UCSB 18-4 on March 28th in Manoa.
The 1st match for UH is set for Friday at 7:00am HT in Long Beach, California.
The winner of (1) Hawaii vs (8) UCSB will take on the winner of (4) vs (5) UC San Diego.
Hawaii
‘Surreal’: Flood victims near UH Manoa prepare for third storm
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Anxiety ran high in Manoa ahead of Wednesday’s impending storm, which comes about two weeks after a second Kona low flooded 14 residential units along Koali Road.
It was not the first time the homes were swamped in recent months.
Last November, a water main break overflowed the same ground-level units near UH Manoa, causing extensive damage.
Now, as tenants clean up and repair their homes after the latest storm, they are bracing for yet another storm expected to hit Wednesday.
“It sounds like a movie, it sounds a little surreal, a little not real,” Koali Road resident Carlos Jimenez said.
Jimenez, whose home was flooded both times, recalled the recent one, which covered his home in about two feet of water, describing the deluge as “a little bit above knee high.”
The damage to Jimenez’s unit went beyond the floor, too, because of the heavy rain.
“The ceiling got water-damaged. From what I saw, it was soaking water, sagging, and it was about to collapse,” Jimenez said.
Fortunately, crews repaired his roof days before the third storm could send another round of downpours.
Outside, both of Jimenez’s vehicles sat damaged and dead.
After all that he has seen at his Koali Road home, Jimenez said he would take the new storm seriously.
“Get ready, you know, with my mother. She lives with me. She’s 87,” Jimenez said.
After witnessing the devastation in the neighborhood, Jimenez’s neighbor, Dario Aricala, whose home was spared, is not taking it for granted during this week’s wet weather.
“The last storm, we almost got flooded. We are hoping for the best that this storm is not such bad,” Aricala said.
Click here to donate to Jimenez’s GoFundMe page.
In the meantime, other residents have been staying elsewhere during cleanup and repairs, and the property manager said he has been helping them.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
-
Atlanta, GA5 days ago1 teenage girl killed, another injured in shooting at Piedmont Park, police say
-
Culture1 week agoDo You Know Where These Famous Authors Are Buried?
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoVaazha 2 first half review: Hashir anchors a lively, chaos-filled teen tale
-
Education1 week agoVideo: We Put Dyson’s $600 Vacuum to the Test
-
Georgia2 days agoGeorgia House Special Runoff Election 2026 Live Results
-
Pennsylvania3 days agoParents charged after toddler injured by wolf at Pennsylvania zoo
-
Milwaukee, WI3 days agoPotawatomi Casino Hotel evacuated after fire breaks out in rooftop HVAC system
-
Entertainment1 week agoInside Ye’s first comeback show at SoFi Stadium