News anchor Teri Okita will leave Hawaii News Now at the end of the February Nielsen ratings period and former anchor Grace Lee, who left the stations in November of 2010, will be returning, the Star-Advertiser has learned.

Lee has been a reporter and fill-in anchor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco, a station owned and operated by CBS.

General Manager Rick Blangiardi confirmed this morning Okita will be leaving the Hawaii market for London. “It’s a life decision,” he said. She could not be reached for details.

“Sunrise” anchor Tannya Joaquin will move from mornings to Okita’s anchor slots at 6 and 6:30 p.m. weekdays and also will do field reporting. Lee will return to the “Sunrise” morning news show of which she was an inaugural anchor. Fans will be pleased to know her dog Sunny also will return to the islands.

Anchor Stephanie Lum will retain her timeslots at 5, 5:30, 9 and 10 p.m., Blangiardi said.