History of Communication
March 2025 – Hawaii Water Service (HWS) to
All Irrigation Water Users in Kapalua
HWS started sending regular notices of Tier 4 water curtailments in March 2025. Under Tier 4, non-potable water use is exclusively limited to fire protection purposes.
Other drier parts of West Maui that do not depend on MLP for irrigation water but are served by Maui County, including Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, and Kahana, have only been subject to limited Stage 1 restrictions that still allow for irrigation at reduced frequencies.
June 19, 2025 – Maui Land and Pineapple (MLP) to TY Management
MLP proposed providing TY Management with a limited supply of emergency water from Kapalua wells to help sustain golf course operations during the ongoing drought. But ties the water supply to different conditions, such as TY dismissing its PUC complaint, agreeing to much higher irrigation rates, agreeing not to bring any disputes to CWRM and the County, agreeing not to oppose any development plan by MLP, and agreeing to withdraw objections to MLP’s annexations of additional lands to Kapalua Resort Association.
July 3, 2025 – TY to MLP
TY stressed the urgent need for reliable irrigation water to prevent irreparable damage to the entire Kapalua community, as well as the Plantation and Bay Courses, warning that course failure could lead to the loss of the PGA Tour event, harming both the resort and Maui’s economy. TY called for a guaranteed minimum water supply for the entire Kapalua community, transparency in billing, infrastructure inspections, funding of the costs to fix the water infrastructure, and cooperation on alternative sources like R-1 water, while voicing frustration that the crisis was being used to pressure concessions.
July 9, 2025 – MLP to TY
MLP rejected TY’s counterproposal and declined further meetings with TY’s representative.
Late August 2025 – CWRM Authorization
CWRM authorized the temporary use of groundwater to irrigate the Plantation and Bay Courses during drought periods. This decision provided immediate relief for the entire Kapalua community since HWS changed its water restriction from Tier 4 (zero irrigation water use) to Tier 2 (60% irrigation water use).
September 16, 2025 – PGA Tour decision not to hold the Sentry at Kapalua in January 2026
However, the damage was done and on Sept. 16, 2025 the PGA announced that The Sentry will not be contested at Kapalua in 2026.