Oahu Babysitter sentenced to 20 years in overdose death of infant
A circuit court judge Wednesday sentenced Dixie Denise Villa to 20 years in prison for the Feb. 23, 2019, Benadryl overdose death of a 7-month-old infant girl. 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
Maryknoll School teacher burned in acid attack offers public thanks
The now 26-year-old Mandarin-language teacher who suffered severe burns to 50% of her body and face in a Jan. 23, 2024, acid attack made her first public appearance Monday, to thank the public for their generous donations totaling more than $193,000. Read more
Judge declines to drop indictment in Isabella Kalua murder case
Lehua Kalua was indicted in 2021, along with her husband, Isaac “Sonny” Kalua III, for second-degree murder, abuse and other related charges in connection with Isabella Kalua’s death. Read more
Motion denied for new trial in baby’s Benadryl death
A circuit judge Monday denied babysitter Dixie Denise Villa’s motion for a new trial in the Benadryl overdose death of 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch. Read more
Driver in fatal crash sentenced for prior violation
The man charged with first-degree negligent homicide in the Feb. 15, 2023, hit-and-run death of a McKinley High School student was sentenced Monday to one year in jail for a traffic crime that occurred a month before the fatal crash. Read more
Supervised release denied for mom accused in adopted daughter’s death
Circuit Judge Rowena Somerville denied a motion Tuesday for the supervised release of Sina Pili, charged with manslaughter in the Dec. 22, 2023, child abuse death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter. Read more
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Hawaii set to pay $750,000 in wrongful death settlement
The state Legislature is expected to approve a $750,000 settlement in the 2019 wrongful shooting death of an unarmed, disabled, homeless man by an on-duty state deputy sheriff, who was not criminally held responsible but since faces scrutiny in the deaths of two more people in 2021 and 2022 while a police officer in San Diego. Read more
Suspect, 33, in Kipapa Gulch fatal crash pleads not guilty
A 33-year-old driver who crashed a vehicle near the Kipaa Gulch Bridge, killing his 15-year-old female passenger on April 12, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of negligent homicide and driving without a license. Read more
Keiki bond with imprisoned dads at Easter-themed event
While the Women’s Community Correctional Center and minimum-security Waiawa Correctional Facility have hosted Keiki Days, this was the first at Halawa Correctional Facility, a medium-security prison. Read more
Sister’s testimony offers clues to what happened to Isabella Kalua’s body
The transcript of the testimony was attached to a motion filed in February to dismiss the murder charge filed by Lehua Kalua, Isabella’s adoptive mother. Read more
Oahu residents turn in over 367 firearms in gun buyback program
Oahu residents turned in roughly 367 firearms of all types today in a gun buyback program at the Aloha Stadium, the Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) announced in a news release this afternoon. Read more
Police arrest girl, 15, for allegedly assaulting foster mother, 73
Police arrested a 15-year-old girl this morning for allegedly assaulting her 73-year-old foster mother in Wahiawa. Read more
Man released after murder conviction is overturned
A Circuit Court judge has ordered the supervised release of Oscar Cardona, who was convicted in 2022 of second-degree murder in the June 1, 2021, stabbing death of a visitor in Waikiki. Read more
Grand jury indicts Hilo man accused in fatal stabbing
A Hawaii County grand jury Wednesday indicted Keoni Peter Tosie Brown of Hilo on charges of second- degree murder in the stabbing death of his 81-year-old neighbor and first-degree terroristic threatening of a 38-year-old woman who confronted him. Read more
Grand jury indicts Hilo man accused of stabbing neighbor to death
His bail was confirmed at $2.02 million. Read more
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
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
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