The question I'm most often asked is "Who Owns Kapalua"?
Kapalua Resort is currently owned and operated by Kapalua Land Company, whose parent company is Maui Land and Pineapple (ML&P). In addition to owning approximately 23,000 acres that surround the Kapalua Resort, ML&P also cultivates Maui Gold Pineapple on 2,000 acres of farmland, and owns and manages the 8,300 acre Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve and the 3,300 acre Honolua-Mokuleia Maring Life Conservation Districts.
The Kapalua Resort has its foundation in farming and ranching the land that would be known as Honolua Ranch, began in the 1800's by the Baldwin family. By the late 1800's/early 1900's, the work that would become the Maunalei Arboretum began as the Baldwins, with the help of DT Fleming, planted crops of coffee, taro, mango, aloe vera, pineapple, and those famous cook pine trees that line the roadways of Kapalua.
Pineapple became a serious business, and a large part of the land dedicated to the Ranch soon became known as Honolua Plantation. In the 1930's Maui Pineapple Company was formed by J. Walter Cameron, a descendant of the Baldwins. It was the vision of his son, Colin Cameron, to develop what would become one of the world's favorite resort destinations, the Kapalua Resort. Beaches, Golf, Tennis, and Hiking Trails all allow visitors and Kama'aina alike the opportunity to enjoy the resort's natural beauty.
In the late 1970's the Kapalua Bay Hotel was built, along with the Bay Villas, Golf Villas, Ridge Villas and the Ironwoods. In the late 1980's the residential communities of Pineapple Hill and the beachfront Kapalua Place were added to the resort, followed closely by the Plantation Estates in 1990. In the late 1990's the second phase of Plantation Estates was introduced. The small beachfront condominium community , the Coconut Grove, completed in 2001. Then the focus shifted back to residential subdivisions, with the addition of Pineapple Hill Estates and the Honolua Ridge Phases I and II. With the renovation of the Ritz-Carlton, the next condominium offering was the Residential Suites at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Finally, this year marked the most recent addition to the Kapalua Resort with the luxury condominium community, the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay, replacing the Bay Hotel.
For the second quarter, ML&P reported losses of approximately $54 million. Company revenue was down due to a slow in the visitor industry, along with declines in agriculture and the real estate markets. You can read more in the Honolulu Advertiser. It is noteworthy that the quarterly report details only one closing of the Ritz-Carlton Residences during the second quarter. As the project has been completed, more Residences have closed.
The company I work for, Kapalua Realty, is also owned by Maui Land and Pineapple. For more information on Maui Land and Pineapple, visit the company's website: www.mauiland.com
