Top 10 Things to Do in Paia & Haiku

For those traveling with small children, you can walk to the far left of the main parking lot to the west end of the beach, ‘Baby Beach.’ It’s sheltered by a barrier reef wall, which allows for a calm cover for swimming, playing in the sand, and having a quiet family picnic. You can also drive directly to Baby Beach through a residential entrance in Spreckelsville.

‘The Cove’ is to the far right of the parking lot. It’s an area frequented by cool Maui folks, yogis, families with kids, and sometimes fire dancers and DJs. It’s a great place to swim in the ocean and sunbathe.

Depending on the time of year, the central areas of Baldwin are perfect for bodyboarding, swimming, and hunting for seashells. Baldwin Beach Park offers a host of convenient amenities, including a large parking lot, soccer field, public restrooms and showers, BBQ grills and picnic tables, a large covered pavilion, and a lifeguard stand (on duty from 8 am-4 pm daily). Please heed all ocean warning signs and postings.

Once the CounterCulture Revolution of the 1960s (Summer of Love) left San Francisco, there’s no doubt that the real deal hippies set sail for Maui. Creating new businesses and adding their flare, Paia Town became influenced by a whole new demographic of artsy, educated, and conscious types.

With the indigenous local surf culture and the wave of windsurfing migrants during the 1980s, Paia became a secret gem for all kinds of fun-loving internationals who want to kick back and enjoy their lives to the fullest!

Today, Paia Town is still the backseat heartbeat of Maui County. This one-stoplight town might be responsible for all the unforeseen trends that are at any time seen throughout the Hawaiian Islands. We love Paia Town so much!

Here, you’ll find surf shops and galleries, yoga studios, one-of-a-kind boutiques, tattoo shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and the cutest health food store in the world, Mana Foods. Paia is the incarnation of Hawaii’s small-town charm. Next time you’re on the island, do not miss out on a chance to visit Paia, Maui’s secret crown jewel.

The Paia Stupa is a unique and special landmark located in Paia Town on Maui’s North Shore. It’s beautifully decorated inside and out, a true symbol of love and peace.

In stature, the Stupa is 27 feet high and has a large Mani prayer wheel inside. It is a direct symbol of the Buddha’s teachings with gorgeously painted murals inside and decorated with gold leaf details. Visitors are welcome to stop by anytime between the hours of 6:30 am and 6:30 pm to visit, take photos and turn the Mani prayer wheel.

The Maui Dharma Center practices Tibetan Buddhism in the Karma Kagyu and the Shanga Kagyu Vajrayana traditions. All guests are welcome to join the Center’s daily, weekly, and monthly prayers, meditation programs, and Dharma talks. The Center is open every day for morning and evening prayers. They offer a Sunday service, and special events follow the Lunar Calendar, held monthly and annually. They include Tsok Food Offerings, Fire Pujas (rituals), Tibetan New Year retreats, and holiday events for Buddhist celebrations.

The La’akea Village is on Baldwin Avenue, just a few minutes up the hill from Paia Town. This farm community not only offers farmers markets open to the public but also volunteer-for-a-day opportunities for both Maui residents and visitors.

Programs provided at La’akea include farming, economic venture education, arts, and activities that support daily living for disabled children. Inspired by the Camphill Villages Model, this nonprofit is an international movement designed to meet the needs of those with developmental disabilities through the arts, community, and farm-based programs. La’akea offers a place for residents and non-resident care and is continually expanding its programs.

The La’akea Farm Stand is the output of much hard work from residents, participants, staff, and local volunteers. It’s a beautiful hidden gem on Maui’s North Shore and a great local nonprofit to support.

The La’akea Country Store is open weekly (check hours on their website). Here, guests and residents can find locally and organically grown fruits and vegetables and handmade arts and crafts. As a notable mention, their farm has also received USDA Organic Certification.

It is a top-rated Maui beach for water sports; you will see everyone and their mother surfing here. The middle part of the beach is a great place to layout and have a picnic, and children can easily play in the tide pools. Ho’okipa is a beautiful place during the Summer for beginner surfers (with experience) or those seeking a place for private surf instruction. If you visit during the winter months, make sure to look out towards the horizon, and you may see a pod of Humpback Whales.

Ho’okipa becomes a competitive melting pot for local, professional, and international water athletes during the winter. If you are going to Ho’okipa to surf, definitely mind your manners! Ho’okipa means ‘hospitality’ in the ancient Hawaiian language. That is what you can experience from the Ho’okipa community, as long as you respect the land, ocean, and people. Ho’okipa Beach Park has many amenities, including picnic tables and BBQ grills, covered pavilions, public restrooms, outdoor showers, and two lifeguard stands (on duty from 8 am-4 pm daily).

Please heed all ocean warning signs and postings. Enjoy Ho’okipa to the fullest. It’s one of the most famous beaches in the world!

At the Temple of Peace, guests can book various treatments, including detoxification cleanses, colon hydrotherapy, and more healing sessions. The Aqualani Day Spa is outfitted with a hot tub and herbal steam rooms. Throughout the week, guests can also find various events and workshops led by local and world-renowned practitioners, teachers, and presenters.

Every Sunday, the Temple of Peace offers a “Heart Song Celebration” open to the public. All are welcome to join in song with this interfaith spiritual community.

When visiting the Haiku Marketplace, grab a coffee at Colleen’s at the Cannery or plan on having dinner at NUKA, Maui’s premiere sushi spot. Fukushima’s store has arguably the best fresh Ahi poke and hot dogs on the island. The Haiku Grocery Store always has everything you need, including fresh local produce and a decent selection of beer and wine. Book a massage at Three Treasures, and Maui Kombucha is the place to be if you’re a kombucha lover and are craving some delicious raw food.

Back in the day, the Pauwela Cannery was a working pineapple cannery. Now, it’s manufacturing warehouses, surfboard shapers, art galleries, artist studios, carpentry workshops, the Baked On Maui Cafe, an ACE hardware store, and more. Visit Maui’s Dakine outlet store, and grab some organic snacks at the Pauwela Store.

It’s a great place to check out if you’re venturing through Haiku and want to grab a coffee, pick up lunch, order a surfboard, or pick up some small gifts. Here you’ll find yourself dunked in Maui’s Haiku community. You’ll indeed find some great Maui people-watching moments and a significant glimpse into the Haiku lifestyle.

Today, the Sacred Garden of Maliko offers many things to the Maui community and visitors. Although this Maui locale is “spiritual,” it is non-denominational and open to all religious beliefs. You will see little keepsakes and collectibles throughout the grounds that embrace all religious beliefs, including those of Christianity, Buddhism, Hindu, Druid, and many more.

On the property, guests can spend time in the gardens and explore two full-scale walking labyrinths – an outdoor 11-circuit Chartres Cathedral Style Labyrinth and an indoor 7-circuit Universal Labyrinth (with a sweet little message in the Center).

Guidelines for walking the labyrinths are to “walk with an open heart and an open mind.” The Sacred Garden also offers a Full Moon Labyrinth Walk, open to the public every month.

In addition to the labyrinths, the Sacred Garden also has an indoor nursery, meditation gardens, a “Mother Shrine” dedicated to all things feminine, picnic and sitting areas, and a magical little boutique.

Head to their website to see a full calendar of events, including Labyrinth walks, aromatherapy and essential oil classes, energy medicine classes, and more.

The Sacred Garden of Maliko is operated by the Divine Nature Alliance, a 501(c)(3) public, nonprofit organization. Visits are free to the public, but they will accept donations.

The mission of this 501(c)(3) Maui nonprofit organization is to “unlock creativity through exceptional visual arts education and to enhance this endeavor through the preservation of the historical Kaluanui Estate.” Founded in 1934 by Ethel Baldwin, the Hui is composed of a historic estate, housing structures, working artist studios, exhibition and gallery spaces, classrooms, outdoor art installations, and gorgeously landscaped grounds. “The Hui No’eau aims to ensure access to the arts is a part of everyday life on Maui.” (www.huinoeau.com)

At the Hui, guests are encouraged to embrace their creative side. If you plan ahead of time, you can easily enroll in adult or kid’s art classes while you’re on vacation or check out one of their art shows at the gallery.

The Gallery Shop at the Hui No’eau is a great place to pick up greeting cards, prints, souvenirs, jewelry, and locally made art pieces. It is truly an enjoyable part of their business to support because all proceeds benefit their exhibitions and educational programs. Throughout the year, the Hui also offers a beautiful selection of onsite events such as Art Affair, Maui Open Studios, food and wine events, and a host of programs with internationally renowned guest speakers.

When planning a trip to Maui’s North Shore, there are so many diverse groups, businesses, and communities to explore. You will not find anything like the Hui No’eau throughout the Hawaiian Islands; it is a one-of-a-kind art organization.