Kapalua Golf Course Water Crisis: Will the PGA Tournament Be Affected?
Is the future of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at risk? A critical water dispute is threatening the famed Plantation Course at Kapalua, Maui, leaving its lush fairways and greens in jeopardy just months before the PGA Tour’s season opener. This isn’t just a local issue; it impacts a $50 million economic driver for Maui and raises serious questions about water rights, infrastructure maintenance, and the future of golf in water-stressed regions. This article dives deep into the unfolding crisis, providing the latest updates, expert insights, and potential solutions.
The Crisis Unfolds: A Week Without Water
As of September 5th, 2024, the Plantation Course at Kapalua has been without irrigation water for seven consecutive days. This isn’t a sudden event, but the escalation of a long-simmering dispute between Kapalua Golf Resort and Maui Land & Pineapple (MLP) over the century-old honokohau Stream and Ditch System – the lifeblood of irrigation for West Maui.
initially, Kapalua faced a Tier 2 water restriction, allowing 60% of normal irrigation. On August 31st, 2024, MLP escalated the restrictions to Tier 4, effectively cutting off all irrigation to the course. This drastic measure followed Kapalua’s proactive decision to temporarily close the course on September 2nd for two months, intending to conserve available water and implement turf revitalization efforts like verticut mowing and slow-release fertilization. Though, without water, these crucial recovery steps are impossible.
“we have all the plans to act,” stated Alex Nakajima, General Manager of Kapalua Golf and Tennis, “But without water, we can’t do anything.It’s tough.”
The Root of the Problem: A Century-Old System in Dispute
the heart of the conflict lies with the 11-mile Honokohau Stream and Ditch System. Built over a century ago, this system channels water from the West Maui Mountains to irrigate agricultural lands and, crucially, the Kapalua Resort. Kapalua’s owner, Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai (founder of Uniqlo), along with Kapalua homeowners and Hua Momona Farms, filed a lawsuit against MLP on August 18th, 2024, alleging negligence in maintaining the aging infrastructure. The lawsuit claims MLP has failed to adequately repair and maintain the ditch system, leading to water loss and unreliable delivery.
MLP counters that they have been making repairs as directed by the Commission on Water Resource Management and that their actions are consistent with existing agreements. However, the effectiveness of these repairs remains a point of contention. The Commission on Water Resource Management is currently investigating the situation, but a resolution remains elusive. Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management
impact on the Sentry Tournament of Champions & Maui’s Economy
The sentry Tournament of Champions, a PGA Tour staple since 1982 (and the season opener since 1999), is a massive economic boon for Maui. Officials estimate the tournament generates approximately $50 million in revenue for the island annually.The potential cancellation or relocation of the tournament would be a meaningful blow to the local economy, impacting hotels, restaurants, and countless other businesses.
Kapalua Golf Resort has warned that a prolonged Tier 4 shutdown will make preparing the Plantation Course to PGA Tour standards for the January 5-11, 2025 tournament “painstaking and tenuous.” The course is already facing challenges from months of reduced irrigation, and a second forced dormancy period could prove devastating.The situation is particularly concerning given the increasing frequency of drought conditions in hawaii. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of golf courses – and the broader agricultural sector – to water scarcity.
What’s Being Done? & Potential Solutions
Currently, the focus is on legal proceedings and negotiations between kapalua and MLP. However, several potential solutions are being explored:
Accelerated Infrastructure Investment: A significant investment in modernizing the Honokohau Stream and Ditch System is crucial. This includes repairing leaks, upgrading canals, and potentially exploring alternative water sources.
Water Conservation Technologies: Implementing advanced irrigation technologies, such as precision watering systems and drought-resistant turfgrass varieties, can considerably reduce water consumption.
Alternative Water Sources: Investigating the feasibility of utilizing reclaimed water or desalination (though the latter raises environmental concerns) could provide supplemental irrigation.
Mediation & Collaborative Agreements: Facilit
