A woman who died Tuesday aboard a United Airlines flight from Hong Kong died of natural causes related to a heart condition, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office.

Hung Thi Thu Quach, 57, of Vietnam, was a passenger on United Flight 862 to Los Angeles. The airliner made an unscheduled stop in Honolulu when she was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead upon arrival.

BUDGET APPROVAL LIKELY ON KAUA'I

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i County Council yesterday approved a $158 million operating budget and $65 million capital improvement budget.

Mayor Bryan Baptiste is expected to approve the spending plan, which covers the fiscal year that begins July 1.

At least two aspects of the budget are in response to rising fuel prices: a county energy-sustainability plan proposed by Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura and an 18 percent budget increase for The Kaua'i Bus.

The Kaua'i County Transportation Agency budget increases to $3.9 million from $3.3 million, said agency executive Janine Rapozo.

The increase covers the rising cost of fuel, expansion of bus routes and some increased worker benefit costs, Rapozo said.

Kaua'i bus ridership islandwide was 35,000 trips in April, up from 27,000 trips in April 2007, Rapozo said.

High gas prices have "definitely made people change to riding the bus," Rapozo said.

"I am pleased that a major concern of our residents will be addressed with the expansion of bus services, and that the Lihu'e Development Plan will be updated," Baptiste said in an e-mailed statement. "This will enable us to continue to take pro-active measures in planning for the future of our island so development will occur as residents envision it."

HALE'IWA MAN, 30, KILLED IN CAR CRASH

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office yesterday identified the motorist killed in Saturday's single-car crash on the North Shore as Fredrick Lorenzo, 30, of Hale'iwa.

The accident happened about 5:15 a.m. Saturday on Kamehameha Highway near Punalau Place, police said.

Police said Lorenzo was alone in the late-model Honda when he apparently lost control of the vehicle as it traveled northeast on the highway, crossed the centerline and struck the concrete barrier.

'BOILING POTS' VICTIM DROWNED

A Puna man whose body was recovered Tuesday at Pe'epe'e falls, also known as "Boiling Pots," died of asphyxia due to fresh-water drowning, according to an autopsy performed Wednesday.

Vincent E. Scerbo, 27, had climbed up and was standing under a waterfall when he fell or jumped, police said. He surfaced once but disappeared in the water. Fire Department personnel, using divers and a rescue helicopter, recovered Scerbo's body.

5 SCHOOLS HONORED IN FLU PROGRAM

The state Department of Health yesterday recognized five schools and its Public Health Nursing Branch for their participation in the first statewide, school-based influenza immunization program.

Schools recognized at the state Capitol were Ke Ana La'ahana Public Charter School on the Big Island, Kualapuu Elementary New Century Public Charter School and Maunaloa Elementary on Moloka'i, and Sacred Hearts Academy and Waipahu Elementary on O'ahu.

Those schools represent public, private and charter schools across the state and were distinguished by having either the highest percentages of participation or greatest numbers of students participating in the program, the news release said.