Paia Inn

There are wonderful spots to sit by the water, listen to the waves, and take in the ocean views, and the beach access is excellent. The staff were great too, especially Cheyenne. We stumbled across this place and it was a gem for our time on Maui. Paia has a beach and surf town feel, and thankfully isn't Wailea. If you want five star pampering, Wailea may suit you better; for this laid-back town vibe, this place is excellent.

For the price, the hotel left a lot to be desired. We chose it for its location near the Road to Hana, and it felt more like an apartment than a resort. The cats wandering around the property were a highlight, as was the little area out back by the ocean with its great views. Paia is beautiful and friendly. Parking was a pain: the hotel only has three spaces out back, so we had to use another lot down the street.

Because of Hurricane Kiko, I canceled my reservation at Paia Inn and was told someone would follow up about a refund. I reached out and waited, but got no reply or update, and the refund never came. Being ignored during an already stressful situation was really disappointing. The lack of communication and accountability would make me think twice about booking here.

We felt completely ripped off for what we paid. The actual hotel was dirty and run down, with things broken or not open for use, and it looked nothing like the photos. The difference was so big that deceptive is the word that came to mind. After seeing those conditions, we looked the place up online and found reports about the owner being in foreclosure after years of turmoil involving illegal building, conflict with neighbors, and sexual harassment of employees. I can't recommend this hotel. It isn't worth staying here.