Betty Sakamoto: Aloha! Welcome to Betty’s Real Estate Corner, brought to you by Sakamoto Properties, Coldwell Banker. Today, we happen to be at the Kapalua Golf Course’s Plantation, where the tournament of the year—maybe even bigger than that—has just teed off. They’re going to be coming down nine… maybe.
Roy Sakamoto is over there. He’s going to try to put us on. With me right now is Mike Ryan, one of the top executives of Troon Golf. He comes here quite a bit and has helped ensure that the partnership between Kapalua and Troon has grown and is absolutely fabulous. So, here we are. Mike Ryan, maybe you’d like to say a quick hello.
Mike Ryan: Thank you, Betty, and Happy New Year to all. It’s a great place for us to start our year. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with the team here at Kapalua, along with the community and the Sakamotos, as we’ve been involved in the project since 2010.
So, it’s very rewarding for us, and it’s just great to see the community being embraced by the PGA Tour, along with all the fans and vendors who support this great event. We’re excited for a fantastic week. The weather looks brilliant, and it should be a really good show moving forward. So, we’re excited.
BS: We’re currently doing the show from the conference room at the Plantation Golf Course. It’s a little hard for me right now to be sure that we’re hooked up. Cindy, if you’re here, could you let us know that we’re on the air?
Cindy: You are not only on the air, but you also sound fantastic. And Roy called in—I believe he can hear you too. Are you there, Roy?
Roy Sakamoto: I’m here.
BS: Let’s hear from Roy for a minute and see what’s going on out on the course.
RS: We have a sky box right on the 18th green at the Plantation Course. The tee time should be down shortly. The weather is awesome— a little breezy, but very, very sunny. The conditions are ideal. The golfer…
BS: Do you see anybody ready to come down the hole?
RS: Pardon?
BS: Can you see anybody yet on the 18th coming down?
RS: Not yet, but they should be arriving momentarily.
BS: Okay, perfect then.
MK: It looks like the leaders just finished up 16, so just a couple more holes for the first group.
RS: Okay.
BS: Who’s in the first group coming down?
MK: Tom Hoge is under par through 16 holes. He’s off to a really fast start.
BS: So, he’s the leader?
MK: Yeah, he’s the leader.
BS: Wow!
MK: [Valis?] is right behind him.
BS: It’s an exciting day at Kapalua.
MK: It is.
RS: It really is.
BS: Everybody right now is very excited. In a way, the whole golfing world is listening to this—certainly across the country and around the world. We know people in Japan who stay on top of all this. It’s a big golfing day for the world.
MK: It is. It’s the kickoff to the PGA Tour season, and in my opinion, there’s no better place in the world to start this first event. It’s a signature event for the PGA Tour and has become very, very popular with the players. Not only does it feature the previous year’s winners, but it also includes the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup.
The field has expanded this year—I think it’s about 65 players. We lost a couple due to injuries over the last few days, but it’s still a stellar field with the best players in the world participating. They’ve become passionate about the island of Maui, and Kapalua—it’s amazing to watch.
BS: Kapalua is one of the greatest in the world. Roy and I have been here since… well, Roy was born and raised in Maui, so he gets that as number one. But I’ve been here now for almost 50 years. Having this event here has been amazing for Kapalua and Maui—it has totally changed everything for the Kapalua owners. It’s huge. It matters so much to everybody. Are you still there, Roy?
RS: Yes. It’s huge not just for Kapalua but for all of Maui.
BS: What’s going on now on that hole?
RS: Well, nothing much right now. But I have to say this to Mike—the golf course has never looked better, thanks to the Troon team. It’s in excellent shape, and the golfers are all raving about it. It’s a premier golf course in Hawaii and has to be in the top 10 in the U.S., I would think. So, thanks to Troon for maintaining the course in its championship condition.
MK: Thank you, Roy. That’s great. I’m actually going to have lunch with the maintenance team here in about 30 minutes. I’ll be sure to pass those comments on to Andrew Redmond, who leads that part of our business. He has done a wonderful job along with his entire team.
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve had the opportunity to visit and be part of the team here for the last 10 to 12 years. The continuous effort to make improvements along the way, along with the support we’ve garnered from ownership, has been fantastic. You’re right, Roy—it’s certainly recognized as one of the top courses in the state of Hawaii, and even beyond that, as a top facility worldwide. We’re thrilled to be part of it and very happy to hear your comments. So, thank you for that.
BS: This is a huge year for the tournament because, until last year, it was only for winners.
MK: Right.
BS: But this year, they’ve added—what’s the top qualification?
MK: The field still includes the winners from the previous year, but it also now includes players who didn’t win but finished in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup rankings.
BS: That’s really great because it’s brought so many more people here. The Ritz-Carlton at Kapalua is booming. It couldn’t be better. If you go over there tonight for anything, you’re going to enjoy it—you’ll see some players around. It’s just the best. The Ritz-Carlton is top-notch, and they’re doing everything they can.
Maui Land & Pineapple, Kapalua Land Company—everybody involved with Kapalua—and of course, the Plantation Golf Course. And Troon has made it what it is. Troon Golf—remember that when you’re traveling. If you see a Troon course, play it. And especially Kapalua—come here!
What else, Roy? Anything on your end?
RS: I just want to add that the players love this tournament for a couple of reasons. One, you’ll see them all here with their families—wives, children, parents, even grandparents. It has become a family affair year in and year out.
BS: Are you still there?
RS: Yup.
BS: Cindy, can you hear Roy?
Cindy: Yeah, yeah. He just cut out for a minute. I think he turned his head for a second, hehe.
BS: Don’t turn your head again, Roy.
Cindy: Don’t move, Roy! Hahaha.
BS: We’ve got a lot of time left, so we better not move our heads or do anything, hehe. I still have bars, so it looks like we’re getting through.
Cindy: Actually, I have to say, it’s very exciting to hear you live out there, and that excitement carries through all of you as you talk about what’s going on. We can never underestimate how valuable this event is for tourism—for the world to see, especially for those freezing in the snow in other parts of the world. Oh my God.
BS: Why don’t we try to get someone up here and actually film it from here? At the very least, it would be great for our website, and I would think we could find someone who would come and do it for us.
Cindy: Yeah, I think that’s very possible.
BS: I think it’d be great to have someone handle it so we don’t fall apart trying to do it ourselves. We’ll see how it goes. Are you back, Roy?
RS: Yup, I’m here.
BS: Oh, there you are! We lost you for a little bit—at least we thought we did.
RS: I’ll say this—for the first day of the tournament, this is a fantastic crowd. It’s a great turnout. Usually, you don’t see crowds this size until the final day or two. This is an amazing turnout for day one.
BS: That’s amazing. Just seeing people talking to one another, shopping, and everyone in the shop—everybody is happy. It couldn’t be a better moment for everyone. We are so fortunate to live on Maui, to live at Kapalua, and to have the chance to play golf here. It makes me realize, Roy, I’ve got to play more. I can’t keep playing the way I’ve been playing.
RS: Absolutely.
BS: Absolutely.
RS: Maybe Mike can give us a little background on Troon—the number of courses you have, where you’re headquartered, and you’re well-known here.
MK: Thanks, Roy. I was going to back up a little because Cindy mentioned how much people enjoy watching this event from the mainland, and I can’t tell you how many friends we have— I live in Arizona but have family on the East Coast—who love tuning in to this event when it’s freezing back there. It’s in prime-time television slots, so it’s a very well-watched event.
But to answer your question, Roy—Troon operates at 950 locations around the world today, 650 of which are golf courses that we manage, like Kapalua. Then, we have other businesses adjacent to the golf space that we operate as well.
We have 35,000 employees worldwide, and that number always surprises people because they don’t realize how big the company has become. I joined the organization 24 years ago, and I always tell this story—at the time, my employee number was 613, since we had sequential numbers back then. Now, we’re at 35,000.
I’ve been fortunate to experience the company’s growth—it’s been incredible. When I joined, we had about 60 properties, and now, in 24 years, we’ve expanded to 950 locations.
BS: Unbelievable.
MK: Yeah. It’s part of the reason my hair is gray now.
BS: At what stage did you come on with Roy?
MK: When Maui Land & Pineapple sold the assets here at Kapalua, Roy was tasked with finding an operator. I know he interviewed several people, but Roy and I met in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2010, and we had several meetings leading up to the final decision. We were fortunate enough to be selected and have enjoyed this great relationship for so many years.
It’s been a real bright spot for Troon because Kapalua is a flagship property for us and super important to our portfolio. It has played a significant role in how we’ve grown the business. We’re grateful to Betty and Roy for the opportunity we were given here at Kapalua.
BS: Absolutely. As I already mentioned today, it’s been amazing for everyone because it really put Kapalua on the map in a new way. I mean, sure, it had always been on the map since the early days of the Kapalua Bay Hotel, the condominiums, and everything that was happening back then. The growth at that time was really in the early ’60s.
RS: Right. And with Troon’s help, this has been elevated to an entirely new level. There were always some great courses at Kapalua, and there were past tournaments like the Lincoln Mercury and so forth. But with Troon’s involvement, this has become one of the major events on the PGA Tour. Just fantastic. Again, thanks, Mike—to you and your team. It’s pretty awesome.
MK: Thanks, Roy. I think it’s also important to recognize Sentry Insurance and what they’ve done for the event and the community. They’ve really stepped up, and there’s a long-term agreement for them to remain the title sponsor. That’s very encouraging for the future of this event and for the state of Hawaii. It’s fantastic.
BS: Absolutely. They’re some of the most amazing people. When they’re here, I think Maui feels like home to them. Kapalua is where they want to be. They’re thrilled to have this relationship, and it’s going for another…
MK: Until 2035.
BS: Could have been 2036.
Cindy: Yeah, haha.
MK: Not sure. It’s a long commitment.
BS: It’s great.
MK: It definitely creates some stability for this event. As I said, we’re excited about that for sure.
Cindy: I’ve always felt, Betty, that there’s been a strong sense of giving back—supporting nonprofits and contributing to the community, which I’ve always appreciated.
BS: That’s true. That’s one of the biggest things here, and the current sponsor has been amazing. They’ve taken a whole new approach and have been incredibly supportive of the community. Since the fires in Lahaina, they’ve done so much to help people who lost their homes, their stability—even their pets, their cats and dogs. It’s been such a horrible nightmare for everyone here. Troon Golf and our sponsors—we can’t thank them enough. Their support has been spectacular. It’s amazing.
SP: Yeah. After the tragic Lahaina fire, Sentry was one of the first to step up and reach out, asking, “How can we help?” They’ve been incredibly generous in supporting the community’s recovery. They’ve become such an important part of our community. Hats off to Sentry Insurance—we couldn’t have found a better partner for an event like this. They are truly community-oriented. It’s awesome.
BS: You’re right. Sentry Insurance has really stepped up. They’ve taken it to a whole new level, beyond what I ever imagined. Their support has meant so much to the families here, especially after the fires. It has made a world of difference to have a company like Sentry step in and take on everything we’ve needed. The tournament couldn’t be better.
MK: The tournament is in a great place. The expansion of the field, as we discussed earlier, is a big deal. I see bright things ahead. The golf course continues to improve, as Roy mentioned earlier, which is exciting. It’s fantastic to see the community rallying around this event, especially after everything that’s happened in Lahaina. It’s helped bring people back together, and that’s so important. Many of our associates were affected, and we’re happy to help in any way we can move forward.
BS: It’s been incredibly hard for the people of Lahaina. So many have lost their homes, and their loved ones—there have been so many heartbreaking losses. But anything that helps bring people back together makes a huge difference. They’re getting more housing set up now. Roy has been working on some housing here at Kapalua with the owner of the golf courses, who put up 50 homes at Kapalua Resort.
People call them “tiny homes,” and yes, they’re small—but they’re spectacular. They have everything you need: washers, dryers, and all the furniture you’d need. They’re in great shape, and people are finally starting to move in. These homes originally came from Japan, where they were meant for people displaced by the Fukushima earthquake. Now they’re here. Roy, how many people are actually in the homes at this point, approximately?
RS: I believe 21 out of the 50 are occupied right now.
Cindy: Wow!
BS: That’s really great. We went through so much to get them up and running—this and that, everything it took, dealing with the state, county, and federal government. It was all challenging. It really was a job just to get everything together and reach the point where they could start being rented. But it’s been amazing for the people who now have these homes for up to seven years. Eventually, they’ll probably be moved to another location, but for now, it’s a wonderful little community. Most of the residents will be working here at Kapalua. Kids can play—it’s really beautiful. You can actually walk around and see it. We should make sure you get a chance to check it out before you go.
MK: I did get to see it last time I was here for the dedication ceremony.
BS: That’s right, I forgot.
MK: It was fantastic.
BS: It’s incredible that this all came together. I’ll tell you, Roy went through so much—every night, there was another problem; every morning, another challenge. But he stuck with it. This wasn’t something we were doing as part of our business. It was something that Roy, along with the owner of the golf course and with Troon’s support, worked so hard to make happen. It was a massive effort, but seeing it come together was absolutely spectacular. Thank you, Troon.
Cindy: Yeah. Roy, maybe you can tell people the schedule in case they’re thinking of coming today or over the next few days. What’s the schedule? How do you get there, and where should people park if they’re planning to go?
RS: Sure. The tournament runs through Sunday, which is the final day. You can visit TheSentry.com to get tickets. There’s plenty of parking, and a shuttle service runs from the parking lot to the gate, making it very easy to get here. Just make sure to wear something comfortable—there’s a lot of walking involved.
Cindy: It’s good exercise.
RS: Very, very good exercise.
MK: I believe tee times started at 7:45 a.m. this morning, and I think it’s the same for tomorrow. There’s no better starting hole in golf—watching the best players in the world tee off with the ocean backdrop is truly an incredible sight. If you have time to come out and witness it, it’s well worth it. Hopefully, we’ll see many of our listeners here over the next couple of days.
BS: Check the website—TheSentry.com—for all the details. If you’re on Maui now and anywhere nearby, it’s worth coming up here and getting tickets. Don’t wait—get them now! I know we don’t have a massive listener base, but for those who are tuned in and want to come, you’ll love it. Kapalua is the finest.
Cindy: You can probably go ahead and get tickets online, but where can people watch the tournament? I believe it’s being televised live, right?
RS: Right.
MK: It’s on the Golf Channel for the next three days. Roy, correct me if I’m wrong, but NBC has the final telecast on Sunday. It will be broadcast later today as well. So, tune in to the Golf Channel and NBC.
BS: If you’re going to watch, make sure you tune in for all the days—you’ll love it. We’re usually there, but when we get home and start watching, it’s so amazing that I can hardly believe I live here and that’s my course.
Cindy: Yes, it is. Well, we have two minutes left, so I want to give you all a chance to say any final thoughts or last-minute things you’d like to mention.
BS: I guess we should say—we’re Coldwell Bankers, and our office is in Kapalua. You can reach Roy at 808-870-7060, and our website is SakamotoProperties.com. We’ll direct you to anything you’re looking for, and that would be really great. We’re coming down to the wire, but Mike, do you have any final words?
MK: Yeah. Thank you, Betty. Thank you, Roy, for inviting me to join. I’ve really enjoyed this. As I mentioned, I love starting my year on Maui, especially at Kapalua. It’s been great chatting this morning, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic weekend. Thanks for having me.
BS: You’re welcome. It’s been great. Roy, are you still there? Is anything else happening over at the hole?
RS: No, but we’re looking forward to seeing everyone out here. Come on out!
BS: You’ll see us out there real soon.
Cindy: We love you and thank you! Enjoy it, and thanks for calling in to give us a taste of what’s happening. A big Aloha to you!
