Visiting Paia Maui, Island Lifestyles, Northshore living Island Destination
Maui is on most people’s bucket list for a vacation. Usually, island visitors find themselves on the beach at Kaanapali Resort’s long stretch of beaches or Wailea Resort with world-class hotels like the Four Seasons Hotel and The Grand Wailea Hotel and Spa. Maui does have unique hotels to spoil and pamper you. You can search for all homes for sale on Maui’s Northshore.
I have found that there is a confident traveler who loves visiting the Northshore of Maui. What is so different that brings island guests to visit Paia Maui? To start with you have a different culture that calls the Northshore home. It’s a subculture of people who are looking for a different lifestyle.
You have a strong local community, with generations of Hawaiians, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Kamaaina, and Filipinos who have been living here for generations. Makawao and Paia towns used to have mom-and-pop stores. You could go to Horiuchi’s in Paia and buy fresh meat and fish; now there is a surf shop, times have changed.
As Paia has changed from a plantation town to more of a surf community, you can still see a little of the past in Paia. I would have to say I appreciated the old days. Having moved to Maui 45 years ago, I have seen the transformation of Maui life as we know it today. Yes, I miss the more laid-back life in Maui, but Maui is still such an excellent place to live.
The first thing you notice when you drive into Paia is the old town itself, older buildings that speak of a lifestyle when pineapple and sugar cane were king. You can feel cane workers getting off of work from the sugar cane mill on Baldwin Ave. and heading into town to buy what they need for an evening meal. The Japanese and Chinese adjusted to working in the fields and opened many of the shops in Paia and Makawao. You also had the missionary families like the Baldwins and Rice who owned shops in town and sugar cane fields and ranches.
The Portuguese came to Maui to help in ranching on Maui. They adapted well, being the hard-working people they started their own ranches and fields of pineapple. It’s sad to see these hard-working people selling off their land, even thou you still see a few families holding it together raising cattle and horses. You usually see the Cowboys show up at the Makawao Rodeo or pulling trailers with cattle to the market.
One of the only old stores still open is Komoda’s Bakery in Makawao Town. Very nice family that is known throughout the State of Hawaii for their fresh baked donuts and breads. Across the street is the old Matusi building, where my brother and I had an interior business for 10 years, Nickens Interiors.
So, back to Paia Town, Paia has become a very international destination. Having lived on the Northshore for so many years, I have become friends with people worldwide who have decided to call Maui’s Northshore home. Paddling out for a surf at Hookipa Beach Park, the crowd comprises people from France, Brazil, Japan, Australia, and the locals of Maui. Having surfed together for so many years, it’s always good to see the different men and women who enjoy surfing on Maui.
Windsurfing has played a big role in Maui. In the 80s, windsurfing became the new and exciting sport. These crazy guys with sails on their surfboards charging through the surf and riding huge waves were amazing. Soon, windsurfing on Maui’s Northshore became the focal point of the world for windsurfing. Shops and factories sprang up all over Paia and Haiku, windsurf rentals, and shops like Hi-Tech Maui and Goya Windsurfing to name a few became international names.
Then,
windsurfing events brought world-class windsurfers from around the world to compete in windsurfing contest at Hookipa Maui. Many big names in windsurfing, have aged a bit and have been raising their families and become businessmen in the communities. Names like Josh Stone, The Simmer Brothers Klaus and Malta, Francisco Goya, and the King of windsurfing Robbie Naish to name a few.
These days you will see cars driving down the road with stand-up boards, launching from Maliko Gulch doing coast runs on their 16 ft. boards. My wife and I have competed in the Olukai Race, an 8-mile paddle board race down to Kanaha Beach in Kahului by the airport. Speaking of Kanaha Beach, kiteboarding has become a rage. People from all over the world are taking up kiteboarding. As you’re driving along the coast, you can see their kites flying above the coconuts driving down Hana Hwy.
So as you are cruising through Paia you cannot help but notice that Paia is a gathering place of watermen from all over the world. It’s a fascinating place in the winter, especially when Jaws is breaking. When Jaws is breaking you will notice big wave chargers flying in from around the world to catch a few 60 ft. waves. When conditions are right, they will hold the Jaws Challenge, which Maui’s Billy Kemper won last year.
So, there is a vibe of excitement on the Northshore all year long. My wife and I opened a B&B in Haiku two years ago. We have been finding that people are looking for a different experience than resort living. Don’t get me wrong, I love resorting at Maui Hotels. Our guests love staying in the country; we
have 2.5 acres, a very private and cute 2br cottage. They are out driving all over the island, experiencing life on the Northshore, and the culture, it’s more of a Hawaiian experience mixing it up with the locals.
You can go online and find vacation rentals in Paia and Haiku and mix it up. Some of our guests will stay a week with us in Haiku, and then head off to one of Wailea’s five-star hotels, even know some of our guests remark they missed our Pineapple cottage.
Paia really is a cool town, you have movie stars and musicians that call it home, we have great places to eat like Flatbread Pizza in Paia, and one of the owners is an ex-pro windsurfer. There is always a line out front to get in to enjoy their oven-roasted pizzas. Across the street is Paia Fish Market. Paia Fish Market is always busy, with fresh hot fish sandwiches, fish tacos, and a fun atmosphere, great place to mix it up with the locals. The owner is a big wave charger at Jaws and a super nice guy.
Another popular island favorite is Café Des Ames. They serve a delicious Medaterrain platter and fresh crepes. The owners are from France and England excellent
cooks. They came here to windsurf on Maui’s Northshore.
Mama’s Fish House is known internationally for its dining experience on the beach. So you really have to explore Paia town, there are boutique shops, surf shops, and Mana Health Food store. Please do not feed the hippies. So if you are looking for a different island experience you just might want to visit Paia Maui.
Suppose you’re thinking about moving to Maui. I have been selling real estate in Maui for 29 years. I look forward to introducing you to the Northshore community, the lifestyles, and the prestigious homes on Maui’s Northshore. You can view homes for sale in Spreckelsville and Paia Maui currently listed on the Maui MLS.
So if you’re visiting Maui, take the time to visit Paia Maui and sample some local life on Maui’s Northshore. I work with Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, selling real estate on Maui’s Northshore for 23 years in Spreckelsville, Paia, Kuau, and homes in Haiku Maui. You can search oceanfront homes on Maui island-wide.
I look forward to introducing you to the Northshore community, the lifestyles, and the prestigious properties in Spreckeslville to Haiku Maui.
Aloha, Steve
Steven Nickens RS-54097 GRI ABR
Hawaii Life Real Estate Properties
Cell: 808-280-2208
Email: nickensmaui@gmail.com
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