La'akea Farm Stand in Pa'ia

Farmer's markets and farm stands are all over Maui, sprouting up even in people's front yards in Kahului. Though to be honest, I've only seen one farm stand in someone's yard - I think it was somewhere off Wakea Avenue. 

Banners for La'akea Farm Stand

The La'akea Farm Stand is not on a well-traversed road, since it's on Baldwin Avenue about 3 miles up from the intersection of Hana Highway (in Pa'ia town). It's at least a mile further from the One Love  Farmer's Market at the old Pa'ia Train Station. I don't have the exact GPS coordinates to give you.  Just look for signs on the left side of Baldwin Avenue as you are heading uphill from Paia to Makawao. 

What makes La'akea's Farm Stand different from other farmers markets or farm stands?

• It supports the La'akea Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, which helps adults with special needs. 

Information on La'akea's mission. 

• Another key difference with other stands is that there are coolers which hold leafy greens and vegetables that may otherwise wilt. 

Coolers with vegetables at La'akea Farm

• There is a garden or farm at the stand, with veggie and fruits growing by the booth. 

Bananas and papaya trees growing at La'akea Community Farm. 

• Lastly, this is an organic farm stand, and the produce is local. Some farm stands have some mainland or imported produce. You have to ask - and sometimes the vendors won't know for sure - like they will say, "Oh, we get that from Oahu." But that doesn't mean the produce is local. It could be shipped from the mainland, consolidated and distributed from Oahu. 

A short video of La'akea Community Farm Stand:

Items that can be found at La'akea include:

sweet potatoes, turmeric root, eggs, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, avocados, lilikoi (passionfruit), green beans, coconuts, tomatoes, pineapples, onions, Hawaiian salt, jicama, eggplant, and other produce in season.

Hours are Monday - Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.