High winds forecast to toy with trees

Oahu and Kauai could see wind gusts of up to 50 mph through today, bringing the possibility of downed tree limbs and power outages, the National Weather Service warned Saturday.

The weather service said 30 mph winds can also make driving difficult and that motorists should watch for debris on roadways.

The high winds are also contributing to dangerous surf conditions on the north and east sides of Hawaii island and Lanai and the north and west sides of other islands.

Wind and surf advisories are in effect through 6 p.m. today.

The weather service predicts surf of 19 to 23 feet on north shores of all islands and 11 to 14 feet on the west shore of Oahu. Molokai and west Maui could see 6- to 8-foot surf, with higher sets.

Forecasters warned the waves could produce dangerous rip currents and localized beach erosion.

The waves, combined with the northeast winds, could also produce localized flooding on low-lying, northeast-facing shorelines, especially during high tide early this morning, the weather service said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Federal funds restore service

The state Department of Human Services announced Friday it will restore contract funding for the Kapiolani Child Protection Center on Hawaii island.

"After listening to community concerns about limited service options and the fact that other Kona-based service providers will be unable to fill the gaps, the DHS reconsidered service reductions in the Kau area," DHS Director Patricia McManaman said in a statement.

In October, DHS announced a $5.8 million reduction in Child Welfare Services contracts with community providers and the University of Hawaii.

Since then, McManaman said, CWS has found new federal funding that will enable the department to sustain services in Kau.

The program provides counseling and treatment services to parents with substance abuse problems. An estimated 160 children and 100 parents received services last year.

KCPC has been operating for more than 15 years and employs five people, including three part-time counselors.

Food-label bill wins panel’s OK

A proposal to require that genetically modified crops be labeled as such has passed a Kauai County Council committee.

The Intergovernmental Relations Committee unanimously voted Wednesday to include the proposal in the 2012 Hawaii State Association of Counties legislative package.

Council members reached the decision after hearing testimony Nov. 16 and Wednesday, and sorting through some 60 letters of testimony from all over the state, the Garden Island newspaper reported.

The full Council is expected to take up the issue this week.