Kapalua Golf donates $500,000 to expand restoration of Maui’s Puʻu Kukui Watershed

Kapalua Golf donated $500,000 to nonprofit, Aloha Puʻu Kukui, to expand restoration of the West Maui Puʻu Kukui watershed. This contribution builds upon an initial $500,000 donation in February 2024 for a total of $1 million donated to date that will fund increased restoration efforts including invasive plant removal and native forest replanting, among other initiatives.

“We are deeply grateful for Kapalua Golf’s continued efforts to mālama ʻāina,” said Pōmaikaʻi Kaniaupio-Crozier, Conservation Director for Aloha Puʻu Kukui. “During this time of drought, we all have a kuleana to do what we can to protect the source of our water. We encourage others to follow this example and help by volunteering and donating.”

The native Hawaiian forests in the 8,661-acre Puʻu Kukui watershed are one of the wettest places on earth historically receiving approximately 350 inches per year but more recently rainfall has decreased to about 200 inches per year. These forests are vital for capturing and storing rainfall into Maui’s aquifers, to ensure a sustainable water supply for communities, agriculture and businesses.

Research from the University of Hawaiʻi underscores the impact of such conservation efforts, estimating that every dollar invested in watershed protection yields approximately 580 gallons of additional groundwater into the aquifer. *

Kapalua Golf prioritizes environmental stewardship, “The Puʻu Kukui Watershed is a precious part of our community and our shared future,” said Alex Nakajima, General Manager of Kapalua Golf. “We are proud to do our part to protect this vital resource.”

The donation will directly support on-the-ground conservation efforts, such as a recent planting of 75 endemic Wiliwili trees. Wiliwili trees are only found in the Hawaiian Islands. Other efforts include ongoing invasive species removal, additional native plant restoration and monitoring the watershed’s health.

For field technicians like Makia Lorenzo, this job is both a career and a calling. “I feel grateful every day to have a job in conservation where I truly care about the work I’m doing,” said Lorenzo. “Protecting Puʻu Kukui means preserving our home and our way of life.”

Aloha Puʻu Kukui cares for the watershed from the summit to Honolua Bay. To help protect and restore the native Hawaiian forest that captures rain and provides water for Maui go to AlohaPuukukui.org.

(*) Research: Return on investment for watershed protection on Kauaʻi, Feb. 28, 2025, https://uhero.hawaii.edu/return-on-investment-for-watershed-protection-on-kauai/