KAIAKEA — When the new fire station just north of Kapa‘a is completed in the fall of next year, it will be dedicated as the Kaiakea fire station, the place name on record for that location, according to a county
KAIAKEA — When the new fire station just north of Kapa‘a is completed in the fall of next year, it will be dedicated as the Kaiakea fire station, the place name on record for that location, according to a county press release.
The name for the facility was suggested following extensive research by community member Kalei Arinaga and approved by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.
“I want to thank Kalei for assisting us with the research and helping to ensure that we are properly acknowledging the historic place name for that location,” Carvalho said in the release.
Previously the station had been referred to as the Kealia fire station.
Since the project broke ground in July, much of the site preparation work has been completed along with the detention basin and concrete footings.
Pouring for the concrete building slab is slated for Dec. 1, followed by the formation of the concrete masonry unit block walls.
Unlimited Builders was awarded $4.7 million to build the Kaiakea fire station. The project is being funded through a county bond float.
Throughout the construction, approximately 75 people, mainly local residents, will be working on various aspects of this project
A separate energy project for the facility will be built with American Reinvestment and Recovery Act stimulus money through a $267,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The EECBG funds will be used to purchase and install a roof and/or ground mounted photovoltaic power system, which will be the first renewable energy system at a county facility.
The system is expected to reduce total facility energy use by approximately 40,740 kWh of fossil-fueled generation per year.
Throughout the planning and design phases for the Kaiakea fire station, energy-efficiency was a priority, and elements designed to maximize the value of the PV power produced have been included in the plans, including: efficient lighting; building insulation; controls, switches and timers; efficiency air conditioning units; reflective exterior paint and solar water heating.
Kaiakea will be the eighth fire station on the island and the second one in the Kawaihau district.
Fifteen firefighters covering three shifts will be assigned to the new station, along with the HAZMAT team, who will be transferring from the Lihu‘e station.
