Water restrictions put starting of 2026 PGA Tour in question

The billionaire owner of Kapalua Golf said Maui Land & Pineapple Co.’s move to cut off irrigation water Aug. 29 puts preparations for the start of the 2026 Professional Golfers Association Tour at the Plantation Course in jeopardy.

MLP’s Hawaii Water Service maintains the move was the result of overconsumption by the golf courses last week amid a historic drought. That risked fire protection and restricted use for all Kapalua users, the company said.

The golf course closed Tuesday to try and repair the grass to professional golf’s standards.

The Sentry is scheduled to be played at Kapalua Golf’s Plantation Course Jan. 8-11. The PGA Tour has started its season on Maui for 27 years and funnels an estimated $50 million annually into the local economy.

In January, Hideki Matsuyama won The Sentry, breaking the PGA Tour record for 72 holes by shooting a 35-under 257, breaking by one the 34-under par by Cameron Smith set at Kapalua in 2022.

The Kapalua Plantation and Bay courses closed Tuesday for two months while groundskeepers attempt to revive and repair the grass.

In a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the PGA Tour said it is closely monitoring the ongoing water conservation requirements affecting Kapalua Resort.

“We are engaged with our partners at Sentry Insurance, Kapalua Resort, Maui County and the State of Hawaii to assess any potential impact on staging The Sentry at The Plantation Course in January,” said Rachel Noble, manager of golf communications for the PGA. “We will provide updates as appropriate.”

TY Management, the Honolulu-based business of Japanese billionaire Tadashi Yanai, alleges that its Kapalua Golf operations were told Saturday that Maui Land & Pineapple’s irrigation system reverted from “Tier 2 restrictions” that allows 60% of normal irrigation at the course, back to “Tier 4” which shuts irrigation water off completely.

Kapalua stopped irrigation starting Aug. 29 and golf course groundskeepers have not watered since, according to the company.

“We warned previously that another Tier 4 shutdown would be devastating to turfgrass already depleted from months without irrigation. With the course’s recovery already uncertain under Tier 2, a second forced dormancy makes preparing the Plantation Course to PGA TOUR standards for January even more painstaking and tenuous,” read the statement.

MLP has said it is navigating a historic West Maui drought by adhering to the guidance from the Commission on Water Resources Management to prioritize stream flow and traditional and customary uses, followed by delivery to the County of Maui to provide drinking water for Lahaina.

In a statement to the Star-Advertiser Thursday, the company said “everyone who lives on Maui” can see that the island is experiencing an extreme drought.

“West Maui is dry. Because of the drought, the streams are extremely low and therefore no water can be diverted for irrigation. Following confirmation from CWRM that temporary use of groundwater as a substitute for stream water is allowed for irrigation use, Hawaii Water Service has been pumping the wells at full capacity and allowed the Kapalua golf courses and residents to use irrigation water at 60% of normal use, which takes into account water for fire protection,” read the statement. “Last week, the golf courses did not comply. The max capacity of the two wells is 2 million gallons per day. The golf courses used over 1 million gallons per day over a two-day period, which is nearly two thousand homes worth of water and over half of the water that the wells can provide.”

The overconsumption caused the reservoir levels to fall dangerously low — under what is necessary for fire protection.

“Due to this overconsumption, Hawaii Water Service was forced to again restrict irrigation use for all Kapalua users in order to refill reservoirs and ensure fire protection for the community,” read the statement from MLP. “We are committed to continuing to focus on solutions with all parties and on responsible stewardship of this resource.”

Alex Nakajima, head of Kapalua Golf and Tennis, said in a statement posted on the company website that the temporary closure of at least 60 days is being done to “restore turf health after prolonged irrigation restrictions.”

The tennis and pickleball facilities, the Bay Course driving range, golf shops, Taverna restaurant, and the Plantation House Restaurant remain open.

“We are so grateful for your patience, understanding, and aloha as we navigate this challenging time together,” Nakajima said. “Our decision to open on November 1st or at a later date will be announced on October 15th. We are deeply grateful for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the courses as soon as conditions allow.”

In a civil lawsuit filed Aug. 18, Yanai’s golf business and several homeowners’ associations, accused Maui Land & Pineapple Co. of mismanaging West Maui’s water supply, causing increased rates, water shortages and wildfire conditions.

Yanai, founder of clothing colossus Uniqlo and owner of the Kapalua Plantation and Kapalua Bay golf courses; three homeowners associations; and a farm allege that MLP is neglecting to maintain the Honokohau Ditch System.

The 60-page civil action seeks injunctive relief and adherence to the plaintiffs’ interpretation of the Water Delivery Agreements.

“This crisis is not simply about drought. It stems from years of inadequate maintenance of the ditch system, a lack of transparency in water management, and the rejection of TY’s repeated offers to fund and support needed repairs,” TY Management said Thursday. “These failures have created a situation where water that should be available is not reaching the users who rely on it — from farmers and residents to businesses and Maui’s largest annual sporting event.”

The Honokohau Ditch was paid for by MLP and Pioneer Mill Co. to bring water diverted from Honokohau and Honolua watersheds into drier lands to support pineapple and sugarcane agriculture, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Commission on Water Resource Management.

After Pioneer Mill closed in 2000 and Maui Pineapple Co. in 2009, water has been diverted by the ditch to support nonpotable needs of the Kapalua Resort area and the Mahinahina Water Treatment Facility.

The system covers an area of 11.46 square miles from 5,780 feet elevation to the sea. The longest flow path in Honokohau is 11.4 miles in length.

TY Management said it respects all state and county water directives and “recognizes the need to balance community priorities.”

“At the same time, we call for fair, transparent stewardship of the ditch system to prevent further irreparable harm. The loss of irrigation now threatens not just a golf course, but an event that generates nearly $50 million annually for Maui, supports hundreds of jobs, and contributes to nonprofit organizations across Maui,” said the company. “Our commitment remains clear: we will act responsibly, collaborate in good faith, and do everything possible to sustain the Kapalua Golf Courses and the community benefits it provides.”