Kapalua Closures Threaten PGA Tour Start Amid Maui Water Dispute

Kapalua Resort in Hawaii, home to the PGA Tour's season opener since 1999, will close its Plantation and Bay courses for two months starting September 2 due to severe water shortages amid a legal dispute over the century-old Honokohau Stream and Ditch System that supplies irrigation water to the area. The grass on the courses has suffered significant damage from lack of water since July 25, turning from lush green to a mix of yellow and brown, prompting the closure to preserve the course and protect the future of The Sentry tournament. Tadashi Yanai, the billionaire owner of Kapalua and founder of Uniqlo, along with local homeowners and Hua Momona Farms, filed a lawsuit against Maui Land & Pineapple, alleging neglect and disrepair of the irrigation system, which they claim is responsible for the water crisis rather than environmental factors. Maui Land & Pineapple counters that it has made repairs as directed by the state Commission on Water Resource Management and attributes the water shortage to low stream flows due to drought. The state commission recently eased water restrictions from 100% to 40%, helping efforts to restore the course, but time remains tight as the tournament is scheduled to start in early January. Efforts continue among the PGA Tour, government entities, and stakeholders to save The Sentry and mitigate economic impacts on Maui.