PAIA AND BEYOND
This quirky town of Paia is situated a mere seven miles from the airport and is the last stop before Ho’okipa which is a couple of miles further up the Hana Highway. Over the years Paia has endured a few face lifts but it still retains plenty of its charm and hippy style character with its colourful facades, cosy coffee shops and the ever quirky Mana Foods health food store. Flatbread Pizza owned by Josh Stone is a favourite with windsurfers and tourists alike while the long standing Paia Fish Market restaurant sells the tastiest fish burgers and awesome quesadillas.
The north shore of Maui has a very laid back island style feel about it and unless you get stuck in the escalating problem of evening traffic flooding back from Kahalui back towards Paia, there is very little in Maui life to cause any stress. Aside from windsurfing there are so many things to do on the island. The road to Hana is an awesome way to spend a day exploring and seeing the greener more tropical part of the island.
Once past Paia the Hana Highway passes through the neighbourhood of Kuau, and the infamous Kuau Mart, another great lunch and breakfast store which is a favourite amongst many of the sailors. To start the day their amazing coffee hits the mark, while their ‘Poki’ (raw Tuna) is what most pros lust for after a Ho’okipa session and of course, they sell icy cold beer for those thirsty après sailing. Once past Kuau, the highway hits the ocean right at Mama’s Fish House, one of the more expensive and exclusive restaurants on the island. Most meals with a starter here are going to set you back at least $100 which is about the equivalent of five decent meals anywhere else so unless it’s a special occasion then it is off the budget scale for most of us mere mortals. Once the highway winds past Lanes and Ho’okipa the road then meanders its way around various valleys and gulches until you pass the several turnings that take you up into Haiku. Many of the sailors live in this maze of roads and lanes that wind through the jungle and Haiku is also home to the ‘Cannery’ where the likes of Goya, Maui Fin Company and many other custom windsurf companies can be found. The coffee shop next to the Pauwela Cannery is a popular morning haunt for the likes of Keith Teboul, Levi Siver and many other sailors who live up in the area.
After Haiku, the highway then slows right down as it winds its way around the coastline all the way up to Hana which is a good hour or two drive from Paia if you take your time and stop at some of the amazing view points along the way. Twin Falls is a popular hike about 10km past Haiku on the left of the highway and further towards Hana you’ll find the beautiful rainbow eucalyptus trees, the stunning Honamanu Bay and Kaenae Point, a beautiful place for a breather and a stroll before the last stretch of the road to Hana. Carry on past Hana and there are two amazing hikes, the first at the seven sacred pools and then a more arduous 5km trek through the bamboo forest to a stunning waterfall at the end of the trail which is well worth the effort on a rare non windy day!