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31 May, '11 - Drumroll .... Introducing, Paia |
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31 May ’11 - Drumroll ..... Introducing, Paia
Exhausted from the long flight from Sydney and lack of sleep, Peter and I were desperate to reach our destination, Paia, in Maui's north shore. We were also very much looking forward to our accommodation, Mama's Fish House Inn & Restaurant, as we had heard some wonderful things about it.
Thankfully, Paia was only a 15 to 20 minute drive from Maui's Kahului Airport. Although sharing the same island of Maui as Ka'anapali and Lahaina, Paia is another world away from the island's main tourist areas.
Sadly, the 1950's saw the decline of the cane industry. Though some plantation owners continue to operate at this point, many decided to move on and venture in other agricultural industries. Interestingly enough, what saved Paia from becoming a virtual ghost time was the arrival of the hippies in the 1960's, who contributed greatly in transforming the town. Welcome to Paia, Please Don't Feed the Hippies
Known as “Maui’s Hippie Haven”, Paia has managed to retain much of its laid back, small town feel, thanks to its hippies. Drawn to its natural beauty and rural setting, hippies from the mainland descended upon Paia in the 1960‘s and never left. Breathing new life into a town that would have otherwise faded away into oblivion, their presence adds a bohemian and alternate edge to the town.
But Paia is anything but a "backwater" town. The clusters of old plantation style wooden buildings house a startling array of specialty stores and boutiques that offer high quality merchandise from innovative designers and artisans.
The 1990s saw this once sluggish town embrace a new identity, that of capital of windsurfing in the whole world. Highly touted as "The Windsurfing Capital of the World," Paia's calm and moderately tempered Ho'okipa Beach is perfect grounds for amateur and pro surfers.
Our Accommodation in Paia: Mama's Fish House Funny how the name conjures up visions of a beach shack run by a corpulent Hawaiian "mama". With its humble beginnings in 1973, as the Christenson family's beach house and first fresh fish restaurant in Maui, Mama' Fish House is now an award- winning restaurant that also offers a selection of holiday cottages for visitors to Paia to rent. Located just steps from the ocean, both the restaurant and accommodation offer the same warmth, charm, and relaxed efficiency, with its rustic Polynesian decor, combined with all the mod cons, like a fully functional kitchen, washing machine, dryer, and high speed internet access. Although the ambience may be seemingly casual and laid back, Mama’s Fish House is a well oiled operation.
By the time Peter and I unloaded, checked into our cottage at "Mama's", unpacked, showered, and changed, it was 2:30 pm. Too tired to even make the 3 minute drive into Paia Town Centre, we settled on the easier option of lunch at "Mama's". However, the phrase "easier option" does not do this establishment justice. A tad on the expensive side, the restaurant at Mama's Fish House is nothing less than a culinary experience.
The daily menu at Mama’s Fish House features a variety of fish, and such is their pride in the freshness of their produce that information on where the fish is caught and the name of the fisherman is included on the menu. My Romaine salad with Caesar dressing, Reggiano parmesan and smoked marlin was followed by Ono, a white, delicate fish, caught by Shawn Conners, and prepared in an up-country style, with caramelised Maui onions, tomato, avocado, and jasmine rice. My Ono was executed to perfection, every mouthful a symphony. If you’ve only one day to spend in Paia, Mama’s Fish House is a culinary institution that must not be missed.
OOOPPSSSS... Near Disaster After lunch, a well deserved nap was in order. However, after an hour’s blissful respite, there was Peter next to me on the bed, bucket on one hand, wet sponge on the other, furiously scrubbing what was once a pristine white bedspread. Beneath the sponge was an ugly brown mark the size of a garbage bin lid that look liked it had settled in for the day.
“What the h**l happened?”, I asked, still half asleep.
“I spilt coffee all over the bedspread, Vic! Come and help me!!”
After a frenzied exchange and few expletives, we managed to strip the bedspread, blanket, and pillowcase (yep, it had seeped right through those too) and soaked it in Tide, followed by a cold wash in the oversized washing machine - for once, I loved the fact that everything is bigger in America! In no time, the bedspread and blanket were as good as new. Whew! Disaster averted.
By 6 pm, it was time to get the feel of the town centre of Paia.
The Most Sensational Pizza Ever After the sumptuous (and expensive) lunch that we had at “Mama’s Fish House”, we were hoping for something a little more low key for dinner. We found a local gem in a pizza restaurant called The Flatbread Company. I might eat a pizza back home once every 3 months or so. Not that I don't like them, but I have an aversion to the way I feel after the initial flavour rush: heavy, bloated, with a bad dose of indigestion. That is, until we discovered The Flatbread Company in Paia .
Contact Details:
Mama’s Fish House 799 Poho Place Paia, HI 96779 579-8488 http://www.mamasfishhouse.com/
The Flatbread Company 89 Hana Highway Paia, HI 96779 579-8989 http://www.flatbreadcompany.com/
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Back in the 1880s, the primary branch among the biggest sugar mills in the region was erected near Paia. The popularity of the sugar mill, owned by the Baldwin Company, attracted Asian and European expatriates who were also involved in the cane industry. Up until the 1940s, residents depended on the flourishing sugar industry in order to develop the area. 
after the fast buck. And The Flatbread Company staff not only worked hard but seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs. How good is that! We were so impressed with this restaurant that we ate here twice. Congratulations, Flatbread! Here’s hoping that someone in Australia takes your cue.
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