West Maui fire station project seeks help after tariffs add $314K

OLOWALU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Plans for a new fire station in West Maui have become more expensive after tariffs on Canadian steel added more than $314,000 to the project’s cost.

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The West Maui Improvement Foundation (WMIF), which is leading the effort, is seeking donations and government assistance to keep construction moving.

The nonprofit has been working since 2022 to build a fire station in Olowalu. The closest fire station is in Lahaina, which is more than nine miles away.

Construction was to begin on a vacant, two‑acre lot on Luawai Street.

But after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and steel components, the project’s roughly $3 million price tag jumped by $314,136, according to a September 2025 change order issued by the project’s modular building contractor.

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The project’s expected completion has been pushed to next year.

Now, WMIF is seeking donations and government assistance to keep the project moving.

Community members say the station is critical to strengthen fire protection in Olowalu, especially following the August 2023 wildfires.

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Donations are being accepted online here.