A 50-year-old Waipahu woman died Wednesday after her car ran into a light pole in Makakilo.

Police said the woman's 1996 Toyota was headed mauka on Makakilo Drive near Palailai Street when it veered into the makai-bound lanes and continued mauka-bound for about 200 feet before smashing into the light post at about 10:06 p.m.

The woman, who was not wearing a seat belt, had no visible injuries but was unresponsive when emergency workers arrived at the scene, police said.

She died at St. Francis Medical Center-West.

Police said they do not believe alcohol or speeding were factors in the crash.

MANOA

DOCTOR APPOINTED TO NIH COUNCIL

Dr. Marjorie Mau, chairwoman of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine, has been named to the National Institutes of Health's Director's Council of Public Representatives.

The 12-member council gives advice to the institute's director on issues of public importance.

KAUA'I

FILM FEST TACKLES OCEAN ISSUES

LIHU'E — The 2005 Hawai'i Ocean Film Festival on Kaua'i tonight will feature a series of short films about the state's marine resources and issues involving the ocean.

The program starts at 7 p.m. at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults or $7.50 for children under 12. Call (808) 826-4581.

Scheduled films are "Kohola o Hanalei," "Wave of Compassion," "Wa'a Ho'olaule'a—Festival of Canoes," "One Winter Story—Towing in at Mavericks," "Surfer Girl 2—The Comeback Kid," "Niue—This is Your Land," "Kamea," "Two Mo' Bettah," "Hawksbill Babies at Makena" and "Healthy Oceans, Healthy Humans."

STATEWIDE

TAX WORKSHOPS SET FOR AUGUST

The state Department of Taxation is offering summer workshops for O'ahu, Kaua'i, Hawai'i and Maui throughout August.

The workshops are Aug. 5 on Kaua'i at the Radisson Kaua'i Beach Resort; Aug. 8 on O'ahu at the Ala Moana Hotel; Aug. 10 on the Big Island at the Royal Kona Resort, and Aug. 11 in Hilo at the Hawai'i Community College Manono Campus; and Aug. 17 on Maui at the Maui Beach Hotel.

The workshops are $60 for people registered two weeks in advance, with an additional $5 fee within two weeks.

For details, visit any district tax office, or call 587-7572, or (800) 222-7572. Forms are on the department's Web site at www.state.hi.us/tax.

INOUYE BILL AIDS CORAL REEFS

U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, introduced a bill yesterday that would boost the resources and damage prevention measures needed to safeguard the nation's coral reefs.

It also would designate Ha-wai'i as one of seven reef jurisdictions that would receive grants to address threats.

"Coral reefs are under intense pressure from both burgeoning coastal populations and the millions of tourists who visit our coasts each year," said Inouye, who is co-chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

The bill calls for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to receive nearly double the resources in 2006 — $30 million — that it gets now.

NEWS 8 ANCHOR LEONG RESIGNS

Jodi Leong, news anchor at KHNL News 8, has submitted her resignation after five years at the station.

Leong, who is in rehearsal for a role in "A Chorus Line," is officially on a two-week vacation, which she had scheduled before her resignation was accepted on Wednesday.

"I am leaving to pursue other options," said Leong, who has anchored the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts on the NBC affiliate alongside Howard Dashefsky for most of her tenure. "I need to tie up some contractual things, before moving on."

She wasn't able to reveal her next move, but said she got a job offer while participating in a recent tribute show for Ronald E. Bright, her Castle High School mentor.