We just returned from a wonderful trip to Maui, with the exception that while we were parked in the public parking lot in Paia our rental car window was smashed and and my son's backpack with his homework/schoolbooks in it was stolen. I was told there are daily breakins at this public parking area. We stopped in Paia before our return flight because I read it had some fun shopping. We weren't impressed with the shopping!

Highlights: We stayed at the Marriott Ocean Club and it was wonderful. Snorkeled right in front of the hotel and saw a huge turtle and lots of fish.

We dove with Ed Robinson out to Molokini and saw two sharks and lots of turtles. Also dove with Extended Horizons and had an amazing scooter dive with Manta Rays and did a night dive at Black Rock.

My husband and son took surfing lessons from Goofy Foot Surfing.

We ate at the Hula Grill, Leilani's, Bubba Gumb, Maui Tacos, and Cheeseburger in Paradise - all of which were delicious.

Whale watching was fabulous, both from our hotel balcony and on our tour with Pacific Whale Foundation. It was so fun to hear them underwater while diving as well.

Hi Barbara,

Great ot read your report, but so sorry to hear about your son's bad fortune .

Isn't it amazing to see these magnificent sea creatures? (Not so sure about the sharks), but definately the turtles and whales.

Best wishes!

Susan - Thanks! The sharks were only about five foot long and seemed much more afraid of us than I was of them.

It sounds like the "sharks on the land" were much more troublesome. I hope that the creeps that stole the school books and note books at least know how to read.

lol - Thanks Dawn!

we were planning on doing some looking around in the paia area. After your post about the break in, it concerns me. Exactly where were you?

How far out did you have to go when snorkeling in front of the Marriott OC?

Was there any problem with construction noise ?

Thanks

Just as you come into town there is a sign that says public parking. There are a few shops across the street, with the rest of the shops about a block away. Its a pretty busy parking lot, but if I was going there again (which I won't because I thought it was a run down hippy town) I would park on the main street.

The water in front of the Marriott was very shallow, and you had to go out beyond where the waves started breaking, my guess is it was only about 100 ft.

We had an oceanview room in the North Tower (Molokai), and I never heard construction at all.

What did you think of the Goofy foot surfing school?

We are thinking of using them for lessons for our kids this summer

Sounds wonderful and sorry about the car. Mahalo for the nice report.

For others, do not leave anything in a rental car. Even here in Seattle you don't leave something visible in a parked car. Thieves don't know that it's only school books, or dirty gym clothes, or whatever. I learned that the hard way when someone smashed my window to steal a pink bakery box with a cake in it (can you believe it?!?)

Goof Foot Surfing was great. They were really well organized and seem to know their stuff. They have a great photographer who charges $15 per person to photograph all their surfing runs - he gives you a cd with all the pictures on it. The photos were wonderful, well worth the money, especially since you need a really great zoom lens to take pictures of them surfing from the shore.

We parked there in July, and yes, I felt uneasy, as you could see an old abandoned car adjacent to the parking lot. under some trees, where someone was obviously living (they were home). But we did so anyway, and left the windows down, car unlocked, as we've seen recommended for ANYHWERE on Hawaii, and had no problems...actually did have a few things in the car and trunk, but nothing we really couldn't live without.

This could have happened anywhere on the island, not just in Paia. No matter where you travel it is not a good idea to leave valuables in cars, especially in plain sight.

Just came back from a trip to Maui. While there, we visited Paia and had bags stolen from the trunk of our car. Our friends in another vehicle also had their belongings stolen. No forced entry on either but both were valet parked by Mama's Fish House valet. They claim the thefts were impossible at their location. $360 lunch and $2,500 worth of stuff (hidden in our trunk). Per the Maui police, Paia is a very problematic area with many thefts daily. Mama's Fish House won't do anything about it. If you visit Paia, don't take anything of value with you...or plan to carry it at all times!

great report..this has been going on for years in Paia and I wish the Police and Mama's Fish House would get more proactive on this..you are parked in their valet lot.
Police, State of Maui, Mama's, Rental Car agencies need to take more responsibility.
Why couldn't you have surveillance cameras?

This is the main reason I advise people with late flights to pay for an extra night lodging and stay put at their hotel or condo. Even if folks check their larger suitcases early at the airport there are still carry-ons riding around in the rental car. Theft from cars is very common on all the islands.

Sorry meant to say 'they' instead of 'you'..
Why couldn't "you" have surveillance cameras?

Paia can be trouble, but it can be a nice place to visit too. I recommend you park on the street where it is visible to heavy traffic (though sometimes it may be hard to find) instead of the public parking lot at the entrance into Paia town. If you head out early in the morning you'll be guaranteed to find street parking. There's another parking lot on Baldwin Avenue above Mana Foods.
There are some cute boutiques and great restaurants--Cafe Des Amis (crepes), Anthony's Coffee, Moana Bakery & Cafe, and Flatbread for organic pizzas and salads are my favorites. Mana Foods has an organic deli and grocery very resonably priced.