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Location
Paia is ten minutes outside of Kahului on Hana Highway on
your way to Hana.
Information & History
Paia became the most important community along the North
Shore of Maui during the 1880s when the Alexander and
Baldwin Company built the first Sugar Mill on the island
just outside of town. The town itself grew as the company
built camps for its global workforce. The international
contingent included Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese
immigrants who helped develop the community of Paia in the
decades to come. The sugar industry remained integral to
that development as the town swelled to 10,000 residents
during the 30s and 40s. During its heyday, Paia had multiple
movie theaters, a train depot, a hospital and a plethora of
shops and hotels. The 50's saw a downturn in the local sugar
industry and the community shrank significantly. While sugar
cane is no longer a staple for the town, the roots are still
evident. The community is still surrounded by swaying green
cane fields and the towns charming architecture dates back
to sugar's heyday. Even the old mill is still standing. It
was decommissioned in 2000, but it still looms over town
just up the slope of Haleakala. Part of the old mill is now
home to a start-up rum company.
A new wave of immigrants hit the town in the 60s when
hippies found Paia. Drawn to its natural beauty and rural
setting, hippies from the mainland descended upon Paia and
many never left. They helped breathe new life into the town
by opening businesses and restoring ramshackle homes
abandoned with the departure of sugar cane jobs. Their
presence is evident through a number of alternative shops
that dot Paia, the occasional VW microbus and a younger
generation of hippies that roam the streets today. The 80s
put Paia on the international map as it became the world
epicenter of windsurfing.
As this sport exploded, Ho'okipa beach park, located a few
miles east on Hana highway, was discovered and recognized as
the best wave sailing spot on the planet. This brought the
best windsurfers from all over to challenge themselves in
the wind and the waves near Paia. Many of the international
windsurfers have since moved to Paia and surrounding
communities. Between international expats and international
visitors, it is not uncommon to hear half a dozen languages
spoken around town. You can meet people from France,
England, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada, Argentina, Italy,
Germany, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Israel,
Brazil, Spain, Sweden, and Slovakia.
Links:
Maui Map
North Shore Maui Museums & Landmarks
North Shore Maui Beaches
North Shore Maui Hiking & Camping
North Shore Snorkeling & Scuba
Diving
North Shore Watersports
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