HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The owner of the Kapalua Golf courses is offering to spend more than $40 million to improve West Maui\u2019s water system.<\/p>\n
The proposal was made during a state water commission hearing Tuesday over complaints that the courses were allowed to use drinking water during a recent drought.<\/p>\n
TY Management, owned by billionaire Tadashi Yanai, said it would buy the Maui Land and Pineapple\u2019s Honokohau water system, improve reservoirs, and build a pipeline from Lahaina to supply recycled water to Kapalua.<\/p>\n
The company said it would then turn the system over to the government at no charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about ultimately getting to the R-1 water (the highest grade of treated, recycled wastewater) to our golf course,\u201d TY Management attorney Ben Kubo said.<\/p>\n
Drinking water use draws criticism<\/p>\n
The hearing centered on complaints that the state allowed Kapalua to draw from the drinking water supply during a drought, which led to cancellation of the Sentry golf tournament.<\/p>\n
State land and water chair Dawn Chang wrote a letter that was used to justify the decision.<\/p>\n
TY Management said it had no role in that choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t operate the valves. We don\u2019t know where the water is coming from day to day. We just take the water from the reservoir,\u201d Kubo said.<\/p>\n
Community members and environmentalists called on the commission to overturn the opinion that using drinking water was acceptable in an emergency.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing clean, drinkable groundwater to irrigate a golf course, especially in an historic drought, is an insult to our community,\u201d said Karyn Kanekoa.<\/p>\n
Earthjustice attorney Dru Hara urged the commission to act independently of political and private economic interests. An exchange between Hara and a commissioner grew heated before Hara walked back the remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll due respect, Commissioner, that was not my intent to point that finger at the commission, and I apologize,\u201d Hara said.<\/p>\n
Complications remain<\/p>\n
The $40 million-plus offer faces at least one significant obstacle: TY Management and Maui Land and Pineapple are currently in litigation over the water system\u2019s maintenance, and Maui Land and Pineapple would have to agree to sell.<\/p>\n
Maui Land and Pineapple denies mismanagement of its water diversion system caused the shortage of water.<\/p>\n
Kubo asked those present to consider the proposal on its merits.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like all of the community that\u2019s present here today to truly try to listen to what our ideas of a solution are \u2014 to bring more water to West Maui \u2014 and to have an open mind on it,\u201d Kubo said.<\/p>\n
The county has stated its long-term intention to own all water systems in the area, though a timeline and cost remain unclear.<\/p>\n
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