Paia, HI

Pāʻia is a colorful, laid-back surf town tucked along Maui's breezy north shore, home to around 2,500 residents. Originally developed during the island's sugar plantation era, the town has kept its historic wooden storefronts while evolving into an artistic, bohemian coastal community. You'll find it right at the gateway to the Hāna Highway, where ocean swells meet the rolling green slopes of Upcountry Maui.

ATTRTravis.Thurston / CC BY-SA 3.0

Day-to-day life here centers around the walkable crossroads of Baldwin Avenue and Hāna Highway, packed with surf shops, local cafes, boutique galleries, and popular spots like Mana Foods. Hoʻokipa Beach Park is just minutes down the road for world-class windsurfing and sunset turtle watching. For everyday essentials, larger employment hubs, Maui Memorial Medical Center, and the Kahului Airport are all an easy fifteen-minute drive away in Kahului and Wailuku.