Pau Bakery is ‘happily overwhelmed’ after opening in West Maui
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"Sweet or savory?" That is the question at Pau Bakery, Lahaina’s freshest neighborhood spot.
Matias and Molly Meyer, the husband-and-wife duo behind this breezy shop, are here to bake recipes passed down from Matias' mother Paula. Baked empanadas, sourdough loaves and sweet treats abound on this menu.
A stone’s-throw from Honokōwai Beach Park, the first thing one notices upon entering Pau Bakery is the eagerness of the staff: Apron-clad and giddy, the team is happy to serve up avo toast from the kitchen and giant chocolate scones from the prepared section.
Coffee? Not yet since this two-month old bakery is coasting in third gear in terms of the demand it knows it can create.
"We don't want to be overwhelmed," Matias said. "We live three blocks away, and locals are who we're for. It's quality over quantity."
Matias and Molly Meyer are using recipes passed down from Matias' mother at Pau Bakery, which recently opened in West Maui. For The Maui News/Don Conkey
Matias and Molly have planned for the Pau Bakery since they applied for their permit in May 2023, and though measured business owners, they've made no small plans -- evening hours, online orders, prepared delivery, special orders and espresso.
"We want to provide continuity," Matias said. "There are two types of businesses on Maui: those that do their thing for 20 years and the ones who adapt with the changing times and don't just focus on tourism."
With Molly due to deliver their child later this summer, it's no wonder the business is thinking about vibing as a place the next generation can call their own.
With an average of 10 customers waiting upon opening at 7 a.m., the neighborhood sentiment has been, "Thank you. This is what we needed."
A wall of paintings of ocean voyages and marooned islanders provides memorable ambience, and Matias points to the crashing waves and long-ship scene in the corner as his favorite.
The Pau Bakery is a new family business near Honokōwai Beach Park in Lahaina. For The Maui News/Don Conkey
Seven people work the kitchen and floor, and they all bring a bubbly energy to the new business as West Maui works to recover from the August 2023 wildfire.
In "The Tempest," William Shakespeare wrote about a similar scene with characters who inspired one another in the aftermath of catastrophe: "O wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in't."
This line reflects the experience at Pau Bakery and the new life it's created, as many people come for the smell of fresh sourdough and leave with a newfound sense of community.