Hawaiʻi Water Service awards $37,500 to Maui, Kauaʻi Fire Departments

Hawaiʻi Water Service has awarded nearly $29,500 to the County of Maui’s Department of Fire and Public Safety and $8,000 to the Kauaʻi Fire Department as part of the utility’s inaugural Firefighter Grant Program. These grants will help each county offset the cost of equipment that helps first responders save lives and property and support firefighter wellness.

Hawaiʻi Water’s grant will enable Maui County to obtain seven portable, high-pressure pumps with accessories and seven thermal cameras. The portable pumps will help crews draw water directly from available water sources even without fire hydrants. The thermal cameras will help firefighters identify hotspots.

Kauaʻi County will be able to obtain equipment that helps support firefighter health, wellness, and physical recovery at its Fire Station 4.  The firefighters of Station 4 serve the Kōloa and Poʻipū areas.

Hawaiʻi Water has provided wastewater service to parts of Kōloa and Poʻipū since 2024, and has served parts of West Maui since 2003 and Pukalani since 2008.

“At Hawaiʻi Water Service, we are dedicated to our Hawaiʻi communities, and this commitment goes beyond providing the safe, reliable water and wastewater service our customers depend on,” said Geoff Fulks, General Manager of Hawaiʻi Water. “Partnering with the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety and Kauaʻi Fire Department is a natural fit, as water is critically important to protecting our local communities. We are pleased to help provide some of the key equipment that will augment their efforts.”

Bradford K. Ventura, Fire Chief of Maui County’s Department of Fire & Public Safety, said the grant will provide firefighters with critical equipment that enhances their ability to respond to wildfires and protect the community. “This generous grant from Hawaiʻi Water Service will equip our crews with additional thermal imaging cameras, and portable wildland fire pumps. These tools help us in our mission to protect lives and property in Maui County,” Ventura said. “Thermal imagers augment our ability to locate hidden fires, while the wildland pumps allow us to draw water from ponds, swimming pools, and other static water sources to fight fires in areas where we may not have access to fire hydrants.”

The grants are funded through parent company California Water Service Group’s philanthropic giving program and do not affect customer rates.