Grand jury indicts Hilo man accused of stabbing neighbor to death
His bail was confirmed at $2.02 million. Read more
Leila Fujimori
Leila Fujimori is a reporter covering the courts beat for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
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She has been reporting professionally for more than 20 years beginning in October 1999 with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. She was retained by its new owner in 2001 and again when the newspaper merged into the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in 2010.
Earlier in her career, a Feb. 10, 2001 article titled, "I want to tell my parents I am alive," got national and international attention with the first interview of anyone who had been aboard the Ehime Maru. The New York Times used quotes she obtained from a 16-year-old student who survived the sinking of the Japanese fishing vessel by a U.S. Navy submarine, and gave a nod to the Star-Bulletin. The Toronto Star ran the story. Fujimori also shared a 2004 Society of Professional Journalists award with two colleagues for a breaking news story, "1 dead/Cop Shot."
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, volunteering to protect native forests, beekeeping, farming, traveling, singing and spending time with her "dogter."
Latest Stories by Leila Fujimori
Son displayed symptoms of mental illness before attack, mom testifies
The mother of Jared Elizares, a 25-year-old man on trial for attempted murder in an unprovoked knife attack on a stranger in the men’s restroom of a popular Kapolei restaurant, testified Tuesday regarding his and his family’s trauma and mental health issues. Read more
Man makes first court appearance in fatal stabbing of woman, 81
An 81-year-old Hilo woman held up her arms to defend herself against her 30-year-old neighbor before he fatally stabbed her in the mouth Saturday morning, a witness told police, according to documents filed Monday in Hilo District Court. Read more
Mexican national indicted in reentry into U.S.
A federal grand jury Thursday indicted a 51-year-old Mexican national on charges of being an illegal alien present in the United States after being convicted of a felony and removed from this country. Read more
Grand jury indicts Maui doctor for allegedly trying to kill wife on trail
The grand jury’s indictment and decision for no bail overrides a district court judge’s confirmation to maintain his bail amount to $5 million and the need for a preliminary hearing. Read more
Grand jury indicts Maui doctor for allegedly trying to kill his wife
Gerhardt Konig is being held without bail at the Oahu Community Correctional Center after being indicted on the charge of second-degree attempted murder. Read more
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Judge sets $5M bail for Maui doctor in alleged attempted murder
Court documents filed Thursday reveal Arielle Konig, the wife of a 46-year-old Maui anesthesiologist, told police he struck her about 10 times in the head and tried to inject her with a syringe filled with an unknown liquid while on a hike Monday. Read more
Child abuse lawsuit filed against state over 10-year-old girl’s death
The Medical Examiner’s Office found she died of blunt force injuries caused by assault, starvation, prolonged immobilization and physical restraint, medical neglect and pneumonia. Read more
Maui Police Commission opts against putting chief on leave
Mayor Richard Bissen had asked the commission to place Maui Police Chief John Pelletier on administrative leave while commissioners conduct an independent review of the allegations in the lawsuit, potentially involving criminal conduct. Read more
Man, 84, found unfit to stand trial for murder of estranged wife
The man, 84, accused of killing his estranged wife, will remain confined at the State Hospital. Read more
Cold-case suspect Gideon Castro is released from Utah jail
The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said Monday it is continuing to investigate the case against Gideon Castro, but declined to provide any information that it said might jeopardize the case or its continuing investigation. Read more
Pahoa man, 23, charged as accomplice in Hilo police shooting
Silas Zion made his initial appearance in Hilo Circuit Court this afternoon on the accomplice to attempted murder charge along with charges of hindering prosecution and firearms offenses. Read more
Hilo man gets 30 years for sexual assault of teen
Kona Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese also ordered Duncan Mahi to serve a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison. Read more
Hilo man sentenced to 30 years for kidnapping, assaulting teen
Duncan Mahi negotiated a plea deal and pleaded no contest Dec. 31 to first- and second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault. Read more
Kahuku woman pleads not guilty in adopted daughter’s death
The 39-year-old Laie woman was arraigned Thursday on charges of manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a minor and persistent nonsupport with regard to Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, whom she adopted two months prior to the child’s death on Dec. 22, 2023. Read more
Kahuku woman pleads not guilty in death of 11-year-old girl
The 39-year-old Kahuku woman was arrested, charged and indicted on March 7 for allegedly torturing and neglecting the child, Azaeliyah Pili-Ah You, who died on Dec. 22, 2023. Read more
Trial opens with details of unprovoked stabbing in restaurant restroom
Mother, girlfriend plead not guilty in starvation death of 3-year-old
The two women accused of murder in the June 13 dehydration and starvation death of 3-year-old Sarai Perez-Rivera pleaded not guilty Monday to charges in a nine-count indictment. Read more
Grandmother sues the state in keiki’s death
The state’s Child Welfare Services had received reports of maltreatment within the family of a 3-year-old girl who died in 2024 of starvation, according to a federally mandated report on child deaths released Friday. Read more
State had ‘unconfirmed’ reports of child abuse in Sarai Perez-Rivera’s home
Perez-Rivera’s mother and her mother’s girlfriend were indicted this week on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the girl’s starvation death, along with other charges. Read more
Murderer avoids sentence of life term without parole
Jurors unanimously found Friday that the state had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that, for the protection of the public, his sentence should be extended from life with the possibility of parole to life without the possibility of parole. Read more
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