Janee Gutierrez
Founder & Creative Force Behind Madres Churros
Janee Gutierrez is the visionary entrepreneur and founder of Madres Churros, a Hawaii-based, gluten‑free and vegan churro company celebrated for its locally sourced, plant-based approach to this beloved dessert. When she is not frying churros, she is out surfing, swimming, practicing her handstands or making food at home.
A second-generation Mexican American originally raised in San Diego, Gutierrez grew up immersed in food culture—spending weekends in Los Angeles with her family who ran a mariscos food truck. In 2019, she launched the snack concept Madre Churros and Cacao in San Diego, crafting vegan churros with chocolate made from cacao nibs sourced from a small farm in Mexico. However, after being diagnosed with gluten intolerance just two months into the venture, she pivoted to create a delicious gluten‑free, vegan churro recipe.
When the pandemic struck, Gutierrez moved to Oʻahu to be with her mother. What began as a temporary visit soon felt like fate was moving her into this direction—within six months she decided to make the move to Hawaii, working in the restaurant industry before officially rebranding and launching Madres Churros in September 2024.
Gutierrez joined Leeward Community College’s ‘Āina to Mākeke small‑business incubation program, where she developed plans to scale the business and venture into a frozen packaged churro line. She credits the program as a “game changer” in helping her transform her dream into reality.
Her churros are made with poi, gluten‑free flour, and other plant-based ingredients, fried in coconut oil. She continues to connect with the community with pop‑ups, and collaborative food events. As her business grows, she remains dedicated to supporting local producers and expanding her vision for accessible, allergen‑friendly sweets made with heart and her Mexican roots.
