Mari-Ela David will anchor the KHNL News 8 at 5 p.m. weekday newscasts beginning July 25.

KHNL news director Dan Dennison said David will replace Walter Makaula, who has decided to relocate to KSWB-TV in San Diego where he will become weekend anchor and reporter.

"Mari-Ela has done a wonderful job the past year as our late reporter and fill-in anchor," said Dennison. "In her new role she will still be out in the field each day producing stories and then kicking off our afternoon news block."

Next week, David will be filling in on the NBC affiliate's morning show.

She studied broadcast journalism at San Francisco State University and endured the freezing temperatures of Madison, Wis., at WKOW, where she was weekend anchor and reporter. She also earlier worked at California stations.