VIDEO: Support Waiehu Golf Course Rally

Waiehu Golf Course file image by Wendy Osher.

A Support Waiehu Golf Course Rally is taking place at this hour (5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017) at the front of the County Building along High Street in Wailuku.

Organizers say participants in the rally include junior golf players from the Maui Junior Golf Association, MIL high school golf teams, their families and supporters.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced the proposed closure of the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course due to continued operating losses.  The announcement was made during the mayor’s 2017 State of the County Address held last month at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Community rally against proposed closure of the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course. PC: 4.18.17 by Wendy Osher.

In his address, Mayor Arakawa said, “While this comes as a blow for many local golfers who use the Waiehu course often, the county is proposing to subsidize golf fees for seniors and junior golfers to play at other courses.”

In explaining his proposal, the mayor said the course is operating at close to a $3 million loss annually, specifically at a $16.3 million loss over the last 10 years.

Those opposed to the closure say the course is popular, widely used, and has been described as one of the greatest assets to the local golf community.

The rally precedes the Council’s Public Hearing on the County’s 2018 fiscal year budget scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

As chair of the Parks Committee and an active father of a junior golfer, Councilmember Don S. Guzman was among those who said he stands in full support of junior golf users.

*Check back for a full report and video from today’s rally.