Channel Your Inner Mermaid
Prophetic, indeed, was the old bumper sticker that read “New York, Paris, Milan, Paia.” Thanks to the synergy of surf-shop style, homegrown beach culture, and the globetrotting water-sports set who are drawn to nearby Ho‘okipa Beach, Maui’s funky little North Shore town can legitimately call itself a bona fide bikini-lovers’ fashion mecca.
Ten years ago, a little swimwear shop named Letarte opened on Baldwin Avenue, just above Hāna Highway. Under CEO Alison McFerran, the store continues its mission of styling the beach-luxe crowd with signature resort wear: statement prints, versatile silhouettes and accents that embody the Letarte lifestyle—adventurous, chic, and always tasteful. 24 Baldwin Ave., 579-6022, LetarteLuxe.com
Located next-door to Letarte, Maui Girl & Co. has outfitted more than a generation of beach babes in its thirty years as a Pā‘ia landmark. As trends come and go, owner Debbie Wilson maintains the store’s iconic beach-hut decor and bulging racks of swimwear lines, including Maui Girl’s own budget-friendly in-house label. 12 Baldwin Ave., 579-9266, Maui-Girl.com
Is it even a bikini town if the Brazilians aren’t represented? Look no further than the two-story building next to Pā‘ia’s only stoplight, and you’ll find Pakaloha Bikinis, a line designed on Maui and hand sewn in Brazil. They’re loved as much for their buns-out cuts, offered in rainbow colors, as they are for their prices, which err to the skimpy side, too. 120 Hāna Hwy., 579-8882, PakalohaMaui.com
New to the scene, Maui Bikini Factory not only sells swimwear, but offers passersby a window into the process: only a glass barn door separates customers from the seamstresses working on the company’s Maui-made swimwear line, Elle Mer. Keri Ogden and business partner Stephen Haugse own the company; Keri is creative designer. Her pieces meld preppy and sporty for a look that’s perfect for hanging at the country club, functional enough to jump on a board and catch a few waves. 120 Hāna Hwy., 878-0481, MauiBikiniFactory.com
Hey Joe….Is Gary Greene confusing “Stunt Doubling” with photo doubling”? He’s a living testament to the old adage, “The older i get, the better i was.”