The Maui News

The West Maui Improvement Foundation has received $200,000 in conditional pledges for the proposed Olowalu Fire Station, the organization said on Tuesday.

The Yarnold family, who are Launiupoko property owners, have pledged $100,000, which was matched by the Leffingwell family, a news release said.

The foundation has proposed the fire station as Olowalu, Launiupoko and Ukumehame are all outside a 5-mile radius of the Lahaina Fire Station and therefore at greater risk of fire and life safety, the foundation has said. The foundation and the West Maui Taxpayers Association are running a $2 million campaign to build the station in Olowalu, which has seen many large wildfires in and around the area in past years. Most recently, a brush fire fueled by strong winds burned 120 acres in Olowalu and forced multiple road closures.

“By making this pledge contingent upon the fire station becoming operational, we give the WMIF the ability to borrow funds and get this project done,” Dave and Adrienne Yarnold said in a news release. “We ask you to make similar conditional pledges and join us in making this new fire station a reality.”

“We agree completely,” Dean and Becky Leffingwell added.

The West Maui Improvement Foundation is seeking to turn the station over to the county.

About 20 years ago, the foundation raised around $4 million for the Napili Fire Station, which was gifted to the county, according to the foundation.