‘Future home’: West Maui awaits new fire station after years of planning
- Joseph PLuta
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Published: Dec. 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM PST
OLOWALU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Some West Maui residents are celebrating Wednesday, not just for the new year, but because they will soon be getting a brand-new fire station.
The Olowalu Fire Station has been in the works for several years now.
Joe Pluta, the president of the West Maui Taxpayers Association, said it could be operational as soon as next year.
“We’ve got to do something now,” Pluta said. “People’s lives are at stake.”
Lack of fire station hinders church rebuilding
The small community of Olowalu has seen its fair share of wildfires.
Olowalu native Hinano Rodrigues recounts when the Olowalu Lanakila Hawaiian Church went up in flames in December 2020.
“As I closed the back window, I looked up, now this was a matter of seconds, when I closed the back window, I noticed that the fire had actually reached down toward the church,” said Rodrigues.
He said the original church was also destroyed by a fire in 1931.
“We’re struggling to get a new church built, a new building built,” Rodrigues said.
That is because he’s struggling with insurance companies, since there is no nearby fire station.
The closest one is the Lahaina fire station, which is more than nine miles away.
Rodrigues said he hopes to finally build back Olowalu Lanakila Hawaiian Church – something he promised his mom he would do before she died.
“Good news to end the year, and I think good news in terms of faith and resilience to start the new year,” he said.
Private landowner pays for future fire station’s land
There is now a sign on Luawai Street in Olowalu that says, “Future home of Olowalu Fire Station.”
Pluta said West Maui landowner Peter Martin donated the four acres.
He also said the West Maui Improvement Foundation raised more than three million dollars in donations to make it possible.
New fire station may cut insurance costs
“From Puamana all the way to Ukumehame, you’ve got over 750 homes right now that are paying protection class 10, the highest risk that there is for insurance companies,” Pluta said. “They charge the highest amount if they’ll even give it to you.”
He said the new fire station could cut those insurance rates in half.
“Public-private partnerships are the way to go,” Pluta said. “We hope that we’re inspiring other organizations and other places throughout the state of Hawaii to do the same thing we’re doing.”
He said permit applications have been submitted to the state and Maui County. They are just waiting for approvals.
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