WEST MAUI — The West Maui Improvement Foundation last week announced its first conditional pledges for the proposed Olowalu Fire Station. The foundation is spearheading a community effort to establish a Maui Fire Department substation in Olowalu.

A new cost-saving, modular-constructed fire station is proposed on two acres of donated land in Olowalu. For updates on the project, and to make donations, visit https://www.westmauiimprovementfoundation.org/blog.

Launiupoko property owners Dave and Adrienne Yarnold pledged $100,000 toward development for the Olowalu Fire Station initiative. They have been matched by property owners Dean and Becky Leffingwell, who also pledged $100,000.

WMIF President Joseph D. Pluta wrote, “That’s $200K in pledges. (With 18 more matching this, we will have the $2 million needed… Please join them!)”

The Leffingwells explained, “We love living in Launiupoko and are delighted to see the WMIF’s program to privately fund and develop a badly needed fire station in our area. We’ve decided to make a significant conditional pledge to support this effort. The past few years, we have witnessed wildfires in our area, and the ongoing risks we face will continue without better proximity to fire protection as proposed by the WMIF. Their track record at Napili is an unprecedented success, and the opportunity to bring a state-of-the-art fire station to our area is one we should all embrace.”

According to the Yarnold ‘ohana, “A new fire station will reduce response times to the fires we see frequently in our area and should have the added impact of reducing the cost of our homeowner’s insurance.

“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. We ask you to make similar conditional pledges and join us in making this new fire station a reality.”

Pluta concluded, “Now is the time to be proactive in a Hana Hou miracle in process! Send your pledge agreement in today! You have an unprecedented opportunity!”

For more information, call Pluta at (808) 661-7990.