Maui Land & Pineapple Plans Sale, Lease of Island Water Assets

Maui Land & Pineapple Company has initiated a comprehensive strategic review to potentially sell or lease its water source and infrastructure assets amid severe drought conditions and ongoing legal disputes over water access. These critical assets include the Pi‘iholo Well, groundwater wells, and surface water systems supplying drinking and irrigation water to parts of Maui, including Lahaina and Kapalua. CEO Race Randle emphasized the company's responsibility as a steward of these resources and expressed hope that transferring the assets to new partners could improve water security and support community needs such as housing development. The review, overseen by a subcommittee led by water infrastructure expert Ken Ota, began earlier in 2025, though no timetable for completion or pricing has been set. The decision has faced criticism from stakeholders involved in lawsuits, who argue that MLP neglected maintenance and water access responsibilities. Nonetheless, MLP views the potential asset sale as a way to refocus on other business priorities and help address Maui’s ongoing drought and housing crisis.