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
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
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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2 women charged in death of 3-year-old girl appear in Honolulu District Court
The two women charged in the death and starvation of a 3-year-old girl made their initial appearance in Honolulu District Court this morning. Read more
Eric Thompson avoids life without parole for murder sentencing
The 37-year-old was convicted of multiple felonies — second-degree murder and carrying or use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, which made him subject to an extended sentence. Read more
Thompson jurors hear arguments on extended murder term
During Eric Thompson’s murder trial, the only firearms shown as exhibits to jurors were his two .22- caliber rifles found at his home, which were not used in the Jan. 12, 2022, shooting death of his wife’s ex-lover. Read more
Eric Thompson faces life in prison in death of his wife’s ex-lover
Jurors in the Oahu Circuit Court trial will reconvene this morning to hear evidence for extended sentencing, which he is subject to because he also was found guilty of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Read more
Eric Thompson guilty of murder in shooting death of his wife’s ex-lover
A Circuit Court jury found Thompson guilty of killing Waipahu acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara on Jan. 12, 2022. Read more
Jury convenes for man accused in fatal shooting of wife’s ex-lover
Jury deliberations began Wednesday afternoon, following closing arguments, in the murder trial of Eric Thompson, accused of fatally shooting acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara, his wife Joyce’s ex-lover, in 2022. Read more
Testimony in murder trial focuses on couple’s marriage
Eric Thompson, on trial for fatally shooting acupuncturist Jon Tokuhara on Jan. 12, 2022, six months after his wife confessed to an affair with the victim, offered testimony last week in an attempt to refute prosecution claims that he was a controlling man. Read more
CEO indicted for alleged illegal campaign donations
An Oahu grand jury Friday indicted JL Capital CEO Timothy Lee, 48, on nine counts of false-name contribution for allegedly making $13,000 in campaign contributions in another person’s name in 2020 to the mayoral campaigns of Keith Amemiya and Kymberly Pine. Read more
DNA and video are key evidence in murder trial
All heads in the jury box turned to defendant Eric Thompson, on trial for a second time in the murder of his wife’s ex-lover, when video surveillance footage was shown of the prime suspect in the case walking near the victim’s Waipahu acupuncture clinic. Read more
Attorney takes stand in murder defendant’s attempt to withdraw guilty plea
The plea agreement meant Baron would admit to the crimes in exchange for the state not asking the court for extended sentencing. Read more
Man accused in fatal shooting of wife’s ex-lover back in court
Eric Thompson, accused of fatally shooting his wife’s ex-lover Jon Tokuhara three years ago, is being portrayed by the state as a controlling husband in his second murder trial — the first ending in a hung jury Aug. 9, 2023. Read more
Downtown Honolulu business improvement district proposed
Downtown Honolulu, once bustling with office workers who frequented eateries at lunchtime, has seen a downturn in office space occupancy and needs revitalization, say businesses and developers. Read more
Young child’s remains identified 60 years later, but killer unknown
The Honolulu Police Department has finally released information regarding the murder of a young child who died more than 60 years ago. Read more
NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal Kamaka Air crash
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary investigation report that could provide clues as to what might have caused the Dec. 17 Kamaka Air Flight 689 crash that killed two young pilots shortly after takeoff on an instructional flight to Lanai. Read more
Boy, 3, dies from injuries in New Year’s blast
A 3-year-old boy is the fourth and youngest person to die from injuries sustained in the catastrophic explosion of a large cache of aerial fireworks at an Aliamanu New Year’s Eve party. Read more
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