The famed Kapalua Resort, owned by Japanese billionaire and fashion mogul Tadashi Yanai, had some very big news. Indeed, it won’t even be hosting the PGA Tour season opener in 2026 over long-standing drought conditions and water shortages. The Plantation course at the resort has been a hallmark of the PGA Tour since 1999. Designed by legendary architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, it has only missed one year – in 2001. With very little irrigation capability, the resort has harvested enough water to close the Plantation course for two months starting September 2.
The resort is deeply hurt by a still-pending lawsuit. Kapalua homeowners and Hua Momona Farms are suing MLP because it didn’t bother to maintain the key water delivery system for the entire area. This legal battle underscores the larger water crisis in Maui, which has affected about 140,000 people. Water conservation mandates across the island, focused on addressing the needs of the local population first, have made maintaining golf courses and similar recreational attractions a more complex ordeal.
In response to the drought, Kapalua officials have taken a courageous step. They are going to close their Bay course permanently, in order to save water to keep their Plantation course open. This decision highlights the resort’s emphasis on sustainable water use amid a historic drought. The PGA Tour, in light of these developments, has added Trump Doral near Miami to its 2026 schedule, replacing Kapalua as the host site for The Sentry tournament.
“The PGA Tour has determined the 2026 playing of The Sentry will not be contested at the Plantation Course at Kapalua due to ongoing drought conditions, water conservation requirements, agronomic conditions and logistical challenges,” stated a representative of the PGA Tour.
In fact, it contributes an astounding estimated $50 million per year. Stephanie Smith from Sentry emphasized the importance of community ties within Maui, stating, “As we’ve said for years, Maui is a Sentry community not unlike our hometown of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and that remains the case. Our communities are connected. We’ve built meaningful friendships throughout the island, and those relationships are bigger than the tournament.”
Kapalua’s long relationship with the PGA Tour dates all the way to 1982. The increasing pressures of today’s drought conditions are a jarring juxtaposition to this historic bond. The ending of the Plantation course also brings light to alarming environmental concerns in Hawaii. The issue of water scarcity has turned into a hot button issue in the state.
MLP’s response to the lawsuit included statements regarding “certain repairs and improvements to the ditch system,” asserting that their actions were “consistent with the agreements between MLP and the golf courses.” Even these steps have raised questions about whether they go far enough to guarantee the delivery of safe, consistent water.
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