The Makaha Resort & Spa, a 173-room property located on west Oahu is scheduled to close at the end of this month, according to an Oct. 20 Honolulu Star Advertiser report.
Pat Fitzsimonds, CEO of Canada-based Northwynd Properties, which owns the property, said failure to secure the funding necessary for a planned renovation led to the shutdown. "While refinancing for the Makaha Resort is a priority to the company, finalization of the required capital has not yet been approved," he said in a news release issued following a meeting with employees. "At this time, there is no definitive date for reopening, but the company plans to reopen the property as soon as financing and renovations are completed."
Northwynd took ownership of the Makaha Resort & Spa in 2010 and sold its 7,040-yard, 18-hole golf course to Hawaiian Golf Properties in April of this year after announcing extensive renovation plans.
“It’s not very common to see a hotel owner sell off the golf course amenity. That was a little unusual,” hotel consultant Joseph Toy, president and CEO of Honolulu-based Hospitality Advisors, said in the Star Advertiser report. “Typically you want to try to retain the golf course and resort together in order to have some more integrated market positioning.”
According to the Star Advertiser, the Makaha Resort & Spa’s closure will put approximately 100 employees out of work.
Resort officials said they were canceling reservations with guests booked directly through the property without charge and doing their best to assist them with alternate accommodations. Those who reserved rooms through outside entities are being instructed to contact their original booking provider.