HANALEI — Kaua‘i joins the nation in celebrating Women’s Equality Day, honoring the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
The day marks an opportunity to acknowledge the progress made toward doing away with gender-based barriers, as well as celebrating the tremendous contributions from women, while looking ahead to a time where women are afforded the same opportunities in life.
On this day, The Garden Island shines a light on Maria Hernandez. She is the owner of Federico’s Fresh Mex Cuisine in Hanalei.
“As a woman in business, I’ve learned a lot, a lot has changed,” Hernandez said. “Me, my husband, and our children have been on Kaua‘i for 19 years. My husband was a head chef and opened the St. Regis, when they closed for renovations we opened our first location at the Princeville Shopping Center in 2008, and later moved to Hanalei in 2017. We also travel to the mainland where we have another location in Morro Bay, California.”
She added, “I have worked hard. I used to be a registered nurse, but when we moved I decided to switch my focus and its been hard, its been a lot of learning, it has been a great journey. There is so much support for women on this island and, of course, it’s always hard to start, but you’ll learn. I tell my girls, I have four kids, one boy and three girls, and I tell them— mija, just cause you’re a girl it doesn’t mean you can not do whatever you want, cause you can.”
Hernandez said she receives strong support from her husband, as well as her customers.
He tells me, “’Mija, a lot of customers when they see a female behind the line, they start celebrating, not so much with the men,’” she laughed.
“It’s so great to see the customers also support our female workers. I talk to other women business owners and we can all relate on how difficult it is, we all have a lot of patience, and I think we are the best leaders. Especially being on the island and being so short staff, that’s why I do everything.
“But, I always say, ‘remember we can handle stress, we know how to lead, and most importantly we know how to organize ourselves, we raise our kids, we are there for our husbands.’ I do the payroll, I prep, I cook, I had a baby at 42. Women are strong, and we can do everything. My husband helps of course, we are a team, but you have to know how to manage it all.
Hernandez also encouraged women to explore possibilities.
“Young women out there need to go for it, whether it’s owning a restaurant or a business or even getting your real estate license, do it, it is possible. Don’t let anyone ever put you down because you are a woman, you are strong, and so many doors will open once you go for it. And that is how I feel,” she said.
Individuals searching for further resources on the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, an agency that works for women and girls, can visit humanservices.hawaii.gov.
