Before heading to the range, the Tour star drove up the mountain from the Plantation Course to work with Hua Momona Farms, which specialises in microgreens and has been providing free meals of locally sourced ingredients to Maui families displaced by the deadly fires in Lahaina that killed at least 100.
Morikawa and his wife clipped beet sprouts with a straight razor, peeled carrots and stepped into the freezer trailer to finish packing the boxed meals.
Wildfires caused utter devastation in Lahaina, where Morikawa's grandparents had a restaurant. (AP PHOTO)
"Some weeks mean more than others, but when you have a connection like I do this week it's always going to mean more," he said.
Morikawa's grandparents were born in Lahaina and had a restaurant on Front Street, where all the restaurants, stores and homes were demolished by the August 8 fires.
The Morikawa Restaurant had long ago closed, but Morikawa still visited Lahaina as a kid. "A special place," he said.
"You're always going to look back and know what this tournament represented and what it meant to myself and hopefully other players in the field, and what it's going to mean to the community," he said.
"This week I'll always have the community of Lahaina, the community of Maui, in my head. And that's going to push me to hopefully do great things this week."
The Sentry is the first of eight $US20 million ($A30 million) signature events on the PGA Tour schedule, this one a 59-man field comprised of winners from 2023 and anyone finishing in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup.
The idyllic views of the Pacific, and of the occasional humpback whale breeching below, make it seem like any other year at Kapalua.
Far from it.
That starts with the drive toward Kapalua along the Honoapiilani Highway, where charred remains of Lahaina are visible, along with a faint whiff of smoke. The fire destroyed more than 2000 buildings.
Morikawa has company in his concern. Xander Schauffele, whose father was a teaching pro in Hawaii some 30 years ago, was among the first to get involved in August by joining with Hawaiian Host Group to match donations up to $US100,000 ($A149,000) each.
Schauffele started his week hosting a clinic for 60 junior golfers affected by the fires.
Tony Finau had his annual family tournament on the Bay Course on Tuesday afternoon, streaming it live and with three teams playing for various local charities while encouraging donations to the Lahaina cause.
Rickie Fowler collaborated with Cobra Puma Golf on a hat with an "L" for Lahaina. All proceeds of hat sales go to the Maui United Way.
The PGA Tour is set to begin on Thursday with a special Hawaiian blessing on the first tee, players like Schauffele and Morikawa and Tom Hoge pledging money for every birdie and eagle.
Jon Rahm is the defending champion. He is here only on vacation, having been suspended for joining LIV Golf. The other 59 players consider this an ideal start to a new year.
