Mom killed in Aliamanu home recalled as hardworking, quiet

Murder victim Cecilia Fiesta worked two jobs to bring her husband and older daughter to Hawaii from the Philippines, a friend said.

Now Fiesta’s husband is the prime suspect in her death Monday night in Aliamanu.

Pablo Fiesta Jr., 46, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder in connection with his wife’s death, police said. His bail was set at $500,000.

He had been at large for 24 hours and was arrested at Salt Lake Boulevard and Arizona Road at about 8:48 p.m. Tuesday.

The day before, officers were called to a stabbing at the couple’s home on Puolo Drive at about 8:15 p.m. and found a 43-year-old woman unresponsive on the floor with multiple injuries.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died. The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday she died of multiple stab wounds to the torso. The office did not release her name, pending notification of family.

Friends and family identified Fiesta and said she worked at Fisher House, a home for families of patients at Tripler Army Medical Center. One family member said Fiesta worked at Tripler for about five years and had two daughters, ages 10 and 17.

Candice Ualesi, Fiesta’s friend, said Fiesta was working as a housekeeper at Fisher House and at McDonald’s in September, when Ualesi last saw her before moving to the mainland.

Tripler did not immediately comment, and a supervisor at the McDonald’s in Salt Lake declined to comment.

Ualesi said Fiesta was working two jobs to get her husband and older daughter to Hawaii from the Philippines.

She said she became friends with Fiesta while staying at Fisher House for about two years while her mother was receiving treatment at Tripler and described Fiesta as quiet, hardworking and giggly.

“She was really just a sweet and genuine person,” she said by phone from Texas. “She was all about her family. She wanted to make sure her daughters were taken care of.”

She met Fiesta’s youngest daughter once when Fiesta brought her to the house and recalled Fiesta being excited when she was able to buy the girl a special gift.

She said she felt like she gained an extended family while staying at Fisher House and that Fiesta was a part of that, always laughing, talking and expressing willingness to help residents.

“Everybody just loved her and wanted to be around her,” she said. “She had a heart of gold.”

When Ualesi left Hawaii in September, she thought Fiesta’s husband and older daughter were still in the Philippines. She doesn’t know when they arrived in Hawaii.

On Aug. 7, Fiesta texted Ualesi, asking about her parents and saying that Fiesta was excited to see Ualesi when she visits Hawaii next month.

“It’s still kind of sinking in,” Ualesi said. “It’s just hard. When we come to Hawaii, she’s not going to be there.”