Golf resort to be sold, 143 workers laid off

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Makaha Resort Golf Club will be sold and its 143 employees fired on Jan. 22, the company said in a filing with the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Often in such transactions, the new owner will hire back some or all of the former employees.

In its filing with the state, the resort's managing member, Towne Development of Hawaii Inc., did not identify the buyer or say whether the new owner plans to re-hire the employees.

Makaha Resort officials did not respond to several phone calls yesterday. and an employee said there would be no comment.

The Makaha Resort Golf Club includes a 240-plus room resort on 26.41 acres, adjacent undeveloped parcel of 36 acres and an 87-acre golf course.

Wisconsin-based real-estate development firm Towne Realty Inc. bought the property in 2000 and has been marketing it as a kama'aina golf resort.

Ko Olina developer Jeff Stone earlier this year wanted to buy the Makaha Resort Golf Club and neighboring Makaha Valley Country Club for a tourism job training center, but could not find enough instructors or students to support it, he said yesterday.

The two 18-hole golf courses were developed in the late 1960s by Hawai'i businessman Chinn Ho.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.