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."
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bell’s questioning on the stand of the now 26-year-old Colombian man who wants to take back his guilty plea in the 2022 murder, identity and property theft of 73-year-old Gary Ruby revealed why his former lawyers recommended taking the plea deal. Read more
The Honolulu Fire Department is allowing Travis Kotrys to continue working. Read more
Dixie Villa, the babysitter found guilty of manslaughter in the Benadryl overdose death of 7-month-old infant Abigail Lobisch, is asking for a new trial, saying the child’s mother lied about sleeping with her baby and that an unknown witness has came forward. Read more
A court-waived trial was held Tuesday for Desmond Kekahuna, accused of intentionally driving his red Honda Fit into a 37-year-old woman, who was pushing her 6-month-old baby in a stroller through the parking lot of the Mililani Walmart. Read more
A 36-year-old woman, charged Monday for allegedly shooting at her ex-boyfriend Saturday night in the University area, was an accomplice to the man who killed Bronson Kaliloa, a Hawaii County police officer, on July 17, 2018. Read more
The 46-year-old faces up to 20 years in prison for the death of the infant when she is sentenced Feb. 26. Read more
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Manslaughter has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Read more
An Oahu Circuit Court judge Thursday sentenced a 29-year-old Kahuku man to two 20-year terms for manslaughter in a 2022 vehicle crash in Malaekahana in which he killed a visiting Virginia couple and injured their daughter. Read more
Jurors began deliberations in the manslaughter trial of babysitter Dixie Denise Villa after hearing closing arguments late Wednesday afternoon in the February 2019 “Benadryl” toxicity death of 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch. Read more
The state and the defense presented their final witnesses Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of Dixie Denise Villa, accused of giving a fatal dose of diphenhydramine, the antihistamine found in Benadryl, to a 7-month-old infant. Read more
The 35-year-old mother of 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch, who died in 2019 of an overdose of diphenhydramine — the drug found in Benadryl — gave tearful testimony Thursday about losing her “sweet baby.” Read more
The lawyer for the then-40-year-old babysitter on trial for manslaughter in the February 2019 Benadryl overdose death of 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch began her opening statement Wednesday with a question. Read more
Abigail Lobisch would have turned 6 on July 16 had she not died at 7 months of age from an overdose of the antihistamine found in Benadryl. Read more
Friends say the 61-year-old Maui surfer who lost the lower part of his leg to a shark Friday morning off Waiehu Beach Park, always wore the biggest smile “while cruising down the waves.” Read more
The 25-year-old Colombian man who is trying to withdraw his guilty plea in the 2022 murder of 73-year-old Gary Ruby, along with stealing his house, car and identity, testified Friday concerning the reasons his mother hired attorney Myles Breiner to represent him. Read more
An Oahu Circuit Court judge Thursday sentenced a 32-year-old man — originally charged with attempted murder, robbery and gun charges for allegedly robbing and shooting at a Kaneohe gas station customer in 2023 — to four years’ probation on a charge of reckless endangering. Read more
Gibran Copeland, the homeless man indicted on murder and firearm charges in the Sept. 9 death of his girlfriend, whose body was found in a Manoa storm drain, asked an Oahu Circuit Court judge that bail be set in his case. Read more
The 60-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing 22-year-old Kashka Otto, a worker at the Nanakuli Wendy’s, and seriously injuring the 44-year-old restaurant manager, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that, if he is convicted, could result in a life sentence without parole. Read more
At the time the alleged assaults occurred between July 2017 and February 2018, the victim was 13 and 14 years old. Read more
Kauai County United Public Workers members have voted to accept 15% of their base hourly pay for all the hours worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, the union announced Monday. Read more
A 75-year-old female parking lot attendant at the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center died of fatal injuries when she was struck at about 4:30 p.m. Friday by a vehicle just outside the hospital’s parking garage. Read more
