Kamehameha Schools Maui students, Kumu Kehani Guerrero, Kahu Kanani Franco and state officials pose for a photo in front of the newly blessed firetruck at the Kahului Airport on Thursday. Photo courtesy of DOT

The state Department of Transportation held a blessing Thursday for a new firetruck at the Kahului Airport.

Eighth grade Hawaiian language students from Kamehameha Schools Maui, along with their Kumu Kehani Guerrero, gave the truck its name of Kauakiaweopu’uohala, which reflects the area where the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting station sits, according to a DOT news release Tuesday. Kauakiawe is a high arching rain known to occur in the area. The students researched the area where the station is located to come up with the moniker. They and their kumu, along with Kahu Kanani Franco, attended the blessing ceremony last week.

Besides its Hawaiian name, the truck is also adorned with the number 54.

The Oshkosh 4-by-4 rescue firefighting vehicle has a capacity of 1,500 gallons of water. It joins six other trucks in the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting fleet at the Kahului Airport.

Close to 80 percent of the vehicle’s total cost of $938,000 came from federal funding.