I have been meaning to blog about this place for a long time now, and keep forgetting, so here it is...
MANA FOODS, PAIA MAUI HI
49 Baldwin Ave, Paia HI 96779 808 579-8078
Open daily from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Primarily a Health Food store, with local produce, fresh baked breads and pastries, salad bar, hot foods to go, deli and more.
The salad bar rocks! You can create your own salad to go and throw in some fresh spring rolls, or vegetarian maki sushi (with the seaweed wrap). They make pizza and soups every day, and other hot treats like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, veggie lasagna. It's mostly vegetarian stuff in the salad bar and hot bar, but across the aisle in the deli section you can get hot and cold items that include fish, seafood, organic poultry and meat. How does turkey meatloaf sound? Or Thai shrimp in coconut milk? Free range roast chicken? Does green papaya salad float your boat? These people have a great choice of entrees and side dishes every day.
For a small store, they really pack it in, and have a great selection of items. Loads of choices. This is one busy store. You can make bulk orders of your favorite things, and save a little money. Just place the order and they'll call you when it's in. I buy my granola in bulk so I don't run out. The prices are mostly very competitive with larger stores too, so I keep going back... the lowest prices I have found for teas and olive oils, to name a few things.
Don't let the outward appearance fool you. There's usually some hairy looking backpackers lurking out front, hoping for a stray sandwich to fall into their laps, or chowing down on their tofu burgers.
This place is so "happening" you can often see celebrities shopping here... those who know Paia Maui is the place to unwind without being harassed by paparazzi.
The produce section is unbeatable... lots of organic stuff, and especially locally grown fruits and veggies. You'll see some strange looking things here, but it's all good.... Big Island ginger, Kula strawberries, Maui onions... yummy!
Here's a tip.. if you're cruising around Paia and you're getting too hot, step into Mana Foods and chill a while... they keep it pretty cool in here.
Mana Foods will be able to give Whole Foods a run for their money, when they come to Maui later this year.
Paia has really embraced this natural food store, and it has grown tremendously over the years. I know people who come from all over the island just to shop here. In fact I met a couple who want to move here from Oahu, just so they can shop at Mana Foods!
Sometimes you can even buy a bunch of fresh coconuts outside.
No plastic shopping bags here, so please bring your own tote bags, or buy one to go.
Thanks for visiting my town of Paia Maui. Come back soon.
When buying on Maui, please contact a North Shore Realtor - Georgina M. Hunter R(S) THE HUNTER
SEARCH MAUI LISTINGS ~ EMAIL ~ http://www.eastmaui.com/ ~ 808 283-0635
PAIA MAUI homes for sale ~ OCEANFRONT for sale ~ PAIA RELOCATION PACKAGE ~ North Shore Beaches ~ Paia DINING
Hey Georgina, At the reverse chance that anyone would want to leave paradise and move to Florida, think of me. Barry Smith, Keller Williams Realty, St Petersburg, FL :-) 727-773-6677
My brother use to live in Kona. He flew helicopters for Sunshine Helicopter tours. He's back on the mainland now living in Mobile, AL.
Nestor and Katerina - Thanks for the nice comment! Don't you miss Hawaii?
Barry - I feel sorry for your brother - that's quite a culture shock no doubt.
Hi Georgina,
This sounds like a great place to shop and get away from the paparazzi! LOL! Now i'm hungry....;)
Sally and Randy, Nice to see you two out shopping for groceries. Be sure to check out Mana Foods next time you come over... it's on the way to Mama's.
Georgina- So does that make you 40? I am planning the trip there. I had it all planned out last year but then the market busted here and all our plans were cancelled. So as soon as our market turns around, in the next 2 years I can plan another trip. It felt like home to me when I was there in 1974 to 1979 after just a month or so! But I acclimate well from growing up in the Navy. I was there all by myself as a 15 year old!
40! ha... lol. try 52.5 but going on 30 hahaha. I suppose you were on Oahu, being in the navy. Wow, a teenager in Hawaii must have been wonderful back in the day...
I hope you make it to Maui when you come.