Ask the Mayor: Are There Plans to Restore Waiehu Golf Course?

Waiehu Golf course sign. Photo by Wendy Osher.

The mayor answers questions from the public in this series.

By Mayor Alan Arakawa

Q: I am an avid golfer who enjoys playing the Waiehu Golf Course three times a week. The front nine offers a breathtaking panorama of Maui’s North Shore, while the back nine offers vistas of the West Maui Mountains.

For the past few years, there has been constant erosion at the No. 6 tee, and during the past year, it seems that the erosion process has rapidly increased to where every time that I get to that tee, there is yet another foot or more of grass that has tumbled into the surf.

Had the original builders of the course have the foresight to lay down boulders that now protect the sixth fairway another 50 feet to protect the original pro shop and first tee box, this situation would not be happening. As it now stands, erosion has claimed (an estimated) 70 feet deep of shoreline to where there is only half of the sixth tee existing. If no action is taken, the sixth tee could be gone by the end of the year. Are there any plans to restore and protect this part of the golf course?

A: Yes, due to shoreline erosion caused by rising sea levels, we would like to eventually move the box so the tee would be out of harm’s way. We have not been able to harden the area due to federal and state regulations that place restrictions on the construction of any seawalls or other shoreline modifications. We do plan to have an additional review by the Army Corps of Engineers, to see if other protective actions may be deemed acceptable.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at [email protected], by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.