Stories by Laura Ruminski

Kona coffee labeling settlements top $13M

Kona coffee farmers will soon be eligible to receive a share of millions of dollars thanks to proposed settlements in a 2019 class action lawsuit against retailers that falsely labeled commodity coffee beans as premium “Kona” coffee.

Abarcar pleads guilty in lethal crash case deal

A 26-year-old Waimea man accepted a deal with prosecutors Friday changing his plea to guilty on four of seven charges filed in connection with a 2019 crash that claimed the life of a mother of four and injured three girls.

Last Waiki accomplice sentenced

A Puna woman’s criminal record could be cleared of a charge stemming from aiding Justin Waiki following the 2018 fatal shooting of a Hawaii Police Department officer if she stays out of further trouble.

Resolution calls for working group to plan Keahole ag park

A concurrent resolution has been introduced by the state Senate and House to convene a working group to develop a comprehensive plan for the 179-acre Keahole Agricultural Park located at the bottom of Kaiminani Drive in Kailua-Kona.

Lawmakers debate lowering DUI threshold

A bill in the state Senate to lower the blood-alcohol limit for impaired driving has cleared one committee and will be heard by its second committee Thursday.