Plans are moving forward to build a fire station in Olowalu similar to this rendering. The building would house a fire vehicle and a crew of several firefighters. Courtesy photo

Plans for a fire station at Olowalu seem to be aligned with community and Maui County officials ready to move forward as early as 2026.

The plan is to have a scaled-down version of a full fire station that’s capable of responding more quickly to fires in the Olowalu area.

The Olowalu station is about 8.2 miles from the nearest fire station in Lahaina.

The West Maui Improvement Foundation has submitted its application for building permits, and a special-use permit to construct the fire station at Olowalu — a project that is being funded by public donations similar to the Napili Fire Station.

Once built, the foundation plans to turn over the building as a gift to the county. Foundation president Joe Pluta said getting a fire station at Olowalu as soon as possible is important for public safety in West Maui and to prevent wildfires.

Pluta said the project will help to protect some 600 homes in the vicinity of Olowalu, an area that has seen fires threaten to spread toward Launiuopoko, Ukumehame and Lahaina.

“It could save lives,” Pluta said.

The location of the proposed fire station at Olowalu is a little more than 8 miles from the next nearest station in Lahaina. Photo courtesy West Maui Improvement Foundation. Courtesy photo

The county administration supports the development of the Olowalu fire station.

County officials said Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety has been working on the project since 2022, and the department has added six positions — two personnel on three watches. The positions are currently unfunded, pending an opening date for the station.

According to the county, a mini truck has been ordered for the station and is under construction. Funding for the truck was acquired through the Jeff Bezos foundation with the Daniel R. Sayer Foundation executing the purchase.

The truck is expected to be ready by the end of 2026.

Pluta said the $2.7-million fire station is being made possible by public donations. The permit applications were submitted to the county a couple of months ago.

A blessing was held in June at the 4.3-acres site at Luwai Street mauka of the Olowalu Store.

Pluta said the West Maui Improvement Foundation is awaiting comments about a draft archaeological monitoring plan that has been submitted for state review.

Pluta said that in the past, the foundation was able to build a Napili Fire Station and turn the building over to the county as a gift.

The foundation plans to purchase a single-story modular fire station from the Canadian-based Extreme Modular Buildings.

Pluta said based on talks with insurance officials, nearby homeowners could see a fire insurance rating drop and will be able to save thousands of dollars in insurance premiums once there is a fire station at Olowalu.

Besides the Napili and Olowalu fire stations, the foundation has been involved in building a skate board park for youths in Lahaina, as well as helping in a joint venture to build the Lahaina Aquatic Center and a senior center in Lahaina.