by Judith Campanaro

Created on: February 17, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

MAUI THE NORTH SHORE - HAIKU, PAIA AND THE ROAD TO HANA

Haiku is a rural community with a small town atmosphere.  It is peaceful and quite and surrounded by the tropical jungle on the northern shore of Maui.  Mostly locals, the people in Haiku truly embody the Aloha spirit.  There’s something magic in Hawaii.  It’s like the Goddess Pele brings all your angst and cares to the surface and grants you the strength to heal and deal with them in your own personal way. 

 Paia also on the North shore offers a peaceful and natural setting and an authentic experience of island culture.  Filled with quaint shops and galleries the absence of commercialization is a welcome change.  It’s fun to just walk around the town and experience the laid back and relaxed feeling of the island. Baldwin Beach Park is a great place to swim and play beach games with friends and family.  There is even a lagoon for playing with small children.  For a rare treat check out Ono Gelato.  In the heart of the downtown area this little ice cream parlor supports the local farm community and uses organic ingredients whenever possible.  They combine the natural flavors of  Hawaii with the tradition of Italian gelato for an incredible and memorable treat.  This is for real a memorable gelato. There are a lot of great restaurants and coffee shops in Paia.  Willie Nelson likes to vacation there and one of his favorite hang outs is Charley’s Restaurant.  They don’t take reservations so sometimes there is a wait but the food is good and the portions are enormous.  

One of the most famous attractions on the island of Maui is the road to Hana.  The road is fifty-two miles long and follows the old King’s trail that had been the island’s main path before the highway showed up.  Because of the sharp curves and one-lane bridges the trip along the highway takes about two hours but it is well worth every minute.  You will see waterfalls, eucalyptus groves, and mile after mile of bamboo on one side and the Pacific Ocean with panoramic views on the other side from any spot you can park your car.  Don’t forget to ask the locals at the fruit stands set up along the way for helpful advice on the best places to stop.

One great view along the Hana Highway is Hookipa Beach.   Called the windsurfing capital of the world, it is so beautiful you will want to stop and just stare.  I took a lot of pictures of the area and still have the memory of the place in my head.  The beauty is the kind of scene that reminds you there is a God.  Mother Earth outdid herself with this one.  Even though there are a lot of surf boarders and wind surfers it is not recommended for swimming because of the coral reefs below the waves.  The best vantage point is to pull off the road and view the area from the parking lot up above. You’ll see some awesome young people riding those waves.   

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