8 curated experiences
Pāʻia
A shallow, reef-protected lagoon on Maui's north shore next to Baldwin Beach, the calmest swimming spot in the Paia area and a good pick for families with small children; there is no shade, so bring an umbrella or tent.
Pāʻia
A 17-acre county beach park named for the Baldwin family, whose sugar business built Pāʻia. Calm "Baby Beach" at the west end; heavy shorebreak mid-beach. Lifeguard, restrooms, showers, free parking.
Pāʻia
Clifftop view over the Pavilions surf break, the windsurfers and the turtles on the sand below.
Pāʻia
A 27 ft stupa and prayer wheel at 81 Baldwin Ave, consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama on 24 April 2007. Grounds open daily 8 AM to sunset.
Pāʻia
The town's sandy bay, with no lifeguard: dangerous shorebreak and rip currents in winter. The 1 April 1946 tsunami flooded Lower Pāʻia here.
Pāʻia
Founded in 1906 for Japanese plantation workers; the present hall was dedicated in July 1921. Bronze bell from 1912, a war memorial and a seaside cemetery.
1 vetted property
5 places our scouts eat
Pāʻia
Café des Amis (Paia, Baldwin Ave) — crêpes, curries, and fresh salads on a shaded outdoor terrace. One of the most pleasant meals on the island and excellent value. Live music several evenings a week. Go for lunch; dinner requires reservations on weekends.
Pāʻia
A long-running roadside deli and general store at 701 Hāna Hwy, the last stop before the Road to Hāna.
Pāʻia
Mama's Fish House (Paia, north shore) — Hawaii's most celebrated restaurant since 1973. Book 3–4 months ahead for weekends. The fish is caught daily by local fishermen whose names appear on the menu. Worth every dollar of the $75–120/person bill.
Pāʻia
The natural-foods grocery at 49 Baldwin Ave that works as Pāʻia's gathering place. Picnic food and the best restroom stop in town.
Pāʻia
Paia Fish Market (Paia, and a second location in Kihei) — the best quick fish meal on Maui. The Seared Ahi Burger Cajun Style (seared tuna with a mildly spicy sauce) is extraordinary and unlike anything on the mainland. Loud, fast, and beloved by locals. No reservation; line out the door at noon.
53 on the calendar
Dec 15 – Apr 15, peak Feb–Mar
Leeward coast (ʻAuʻau Channel)
Every winter, thousands of North Pacific humpback whales migrate roughly 3,000 miles from Alaska to the warm, shallow waters around Maui to mate, calve and nurse their young. The ʻAuʻau Channel between Maui, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi becomes one of the best whale-watching areas on Earth, with sightings of breaches, tail slaps and mother-calf pairs. You can watch for free from Maui's leeward coast — the Papawai Scenic Lookout (Māʻalaea Pali), McGregor Point, and the beaches of Kāʻanapali and Wailea are reliable vantage points — or take a naturalist-led boat tour out of Lāhainā or Māʻalaea harbors. Morning trips generally have the calmest water. Peak season is February and March, though whales arrive as early as December and linger into April. Federal law requires staying at least 100 yards from a whale.
2026-01-01
A running race on Maui, Hawaiʻi, held January 1, 2026. See the linked listing for distances, start time and registration details.
2026-01-03
The Quadrantids are one of the year's strongest meteor showers, with a brief, sharp peak in early January that can produce 40 or more meteors per hour under dark skies. Because Hawaiʻi has some of the clearest, darkest skies in the U.S., the islands are a superb place to watch. Look in the hours before dawn, away from town lights — a high-elevation spot or a dark leeward beach is ideal. No telescope needed; just let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes.
2026-01-05 – 2026-01-11
Kapalua Plantation Course
The Sentry is the PGA Tour's season-opening event, a winners-only tournament that gathers the previous season's Tour champions to tee off the new year. It is played on the dramatic Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort on Maui's northwest coast, famous for its sweeping downhill fairways, trade-wind-swept greens and Pacific-and-Molokaʻi backdrop — including the par-5 18th, one of the most photographed finishing holes in golf. Held in early January in Kapalua, West Maui, it draws the world's top players and pairs perfectly with the start of humpback whale season just offshore. Grounds tickets and hospitality packages are sold each year; the West Maui resorts book up early around the event.
2026-02-04
An amateur surf contest on Maui, Hawaiʻi, held February 4, 2026. See the linked listing for distances, start time and registration details.
2026-02-15
Kīhei · Kalama Park
World Whale Day is the centerpiece of the Maui Whale Festival — a whale-themed parade followed by an all-day festival at Kalama Park in Kīhei. The free celebration features live Hawaiian and contemporary music, food trucks, local craft and nonprofit booths, and keiki (children's) activities, all honoring the humpback whales that winter in Maui's waters. Held in February; come early for parking along South Kīhei Road.
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