West Maui fire station eyes fall 2027 opening despite ‘frustrating’ setback
West Maui nonprofit says project will continue despite $300,000 cost increase
OLOWALU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Funding is still needed to build a fire station in West Maui.
Joe Pluta, president of the West Maui Improvement Foundation, says a tariff increase on Canadian steel has added more than $300,000 to the cost of the $3 million project in Olowalu.
“It’s very frustrating. But we’re making progress in spite of all that,” Pluta said.
He thought the Olowalu fire station would have be operational this year, but the site on Luawai Street remains an empty lot.
Pluta knows how desperately the station is needed. He is now using a walker after last month’s fire in Olowalu caused power outages throughout West Maui.
“I tripped on the stairs and fell over and broke my right hip as a result of that,” said Pluta. “It wouldn’t have happened with the power on.”
Pluta and his nonprofit have been working since 2022 to build the station since the closest fire station is in Lahaina, more than nine miles away.
Pluta lost his home in the 2023 Lahaina fire, which he said motivated him even more to get it done.
Response time cited after Olowalu fire
Pluta said a fire station in Olowalu would have shortened emergency response time during last month’s fire.
“Had our station been there, we would have got there within minutes,” he said.
Despite the setback, Pluta said the project will continue through donations and government aid.
“We’re not stopping. We’ll find a way to make it. It’s just that important,” Pluta said.
Pluta said he hopes the Olowalu fire station will be ready to go by this time next year.
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