Small Maui Bakery, Massive Craze: Papi’s Ohana

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:03]Welcome back to Island Life Live. You ready to head back to Paia's Ohana on Maui?

[00:00:07]>> I am. My my stomach is rumbling over and grumbling over. I'm ready for that ginormous cinnamon roll. Let's go.

[00:00:15]This place is so popular. We got here early in the morning and there was a massive line. And we wanted to make sure that our team were still continuing to work and serve. So, we took a little break and we decided to enjoy some of the wonderful snacks that they have.

[00:00:28]But, now we are back right here at Paia's Ohana. Oh my gosh, you know, we have seen this a viral magic with these incredible cinnamon rolls. Tell us a little bit about the magic behind Paia's Ohana. Well, you know, there's a lot of different steps going into those cinnamon rolls. They are a three-day process. There's a lot of secrets I can't tell you, but it is made with a lot of love.

[00:00:50]>> For sure. And you know, I think it's that not only is a cinnamon rolls massive and delicious, but you folks have a lot of other great breads. And you kind of bring your little bit of New Jersey with you, right?

[00:01:00]>> my best.

[00:01:01]>> And tell us a little bit about how you work with David and the rest of the crew here. Me and David are pretty much doing the majority of the production. He comes in at night. I set him up when I get here right right now. I'm going to get all my doughs ready for him for the next day. He comes in at night. He pulls my dough out and then he gets to work and serves everybody in the morning.

[00:01:19]Beautiful. So, David takes care of the cinnamon rolls and you take care of the pizzas.

[00:01:24]>> Yes. And now, tell us a little bit about the hot pizzas, the ones that you got to come for. I really enjoy the Aloha pizza. It has pineapple, jalapeno, and Canadian bacon. That's very popular. I think the pizza's great. Now, for anybody who has not yet been to Paia's Ohana, what kind of tips would you bring in regards to coming in the morning for the cinnamon rolls or even coming in the afternoon for the pizza? Come early for the bakery. We are having our line start around 5:30, 6:00 in the morning and we are typically selling out around 11:30.

[00:01:52]So, I would recommend don't come much past 10:00 unless you're willing to take a gamble. All my pizza, I start taking pre-orders at 2:00 on the phone and I again book up very quickly. So, just call around 2:00 and we'll try to get you scheduled the best we can.

[00:02:07]Beautiful. Well, we're going to kick things into the kitchen with David D and Dave You got two Davids over there working on those cinnamon rolls. One making them, one eating them. David?

[00:02:16]Hey Mahalo Nui Loa Ena Girl. I'm over here with all the magic happens in this nice tub of the cream cheese frosting. I can't wait to dive into that. But right now we're spending some time with David Escobar. Aloha how are you?

[00:02:28]Thank you so much. The owner and are you puppy? No.

[00:02:32]My dad's puppy. We did the business in honor of my daddy who passed away a little bit after COVID. And it is blowing up big time and we saw the lines this morning and that is not a one-day occurrence. It happens every day that you guys are open and it's mainly because of these magic creations in front of us. I heard through the grapevine that you was going to give me the recipe today. Is that what we're doing?

[00:02:52]No?

[00:02:52]Not [laughter] that one.

[00:02:54]Tell me what I'm going to tell you, yeah.

[00:02:56]Tell me what um draws people to these cinnamon rolls. First off, just right off top I just want there When you have some anointed hands, things just happen. Amen.

[00:03:06]>> You know what I mean? Things just happen when you have anointed hands.

[00:03:09]>> Amen. So, I I believe that that is number one. The Lord Jesus Christ is number one. I've been a baker for 20 years and I was I was in a grand Grand Wailea as a pastry chef under wonderful bakers, awesome old school bakers and and a pastry chef from France who taught me all this stuff how to do croissants, cinnamon rolls, scones, sourdough bread, all of that. I just sucked it up and one thing that the Lord showed me that he was going to use my baking gifts for ministry. So, I really truly believe that this is my ministry / business / God's I mean these cinnamon rolls I mean cinnamon rolls are in the Bible, bro.

[00:03:42]Check it out. I will look up the Bible for that and I am definitely [laughter] a part of the congregation because I actually tried one this morning. It is so amazing. It's soft, you can taste the cinnamon and the cream cheese frosting is this a secret recipe?

[00:03:55]>> bro. Bro, I know. And this is How many About how many cinnamon rolls do you guys make and sell a day?

[00:04:00]That's top secret, but [laughter] we do hundreds, so so you know.

[00:04:05]And it's a lot of work. Yeah?

[00:04:07]>> lot of work. I'm here 12 midnight sometimes. I'm here at 10:00 at night sometimes. 16-hour days. My other chef stays She's here for a good 10 to 12 hours a day. We're really just putting it down. And then my wife, of course, she's the show face of the business, and and all of our employees and I couldn't do it without any of them.

[00:04:24]>> Amen. All right, let's see if you can Can you teach me how to maybe ice one of these? Is it hard? It's kind of like painting. Oh. It's like painting. Like you ever paint a You ever paint like your wall or anything or Just finger painting, SO >> [laughter] >> OH, DUDE. GO LIKE THIS. DIP THEM. Come smooth with it, baby. Very, very generous with that Can I try? Oh, wow.

[00:04:50]This is so cool. My first time, okay. Um I'm going to make this one for Leena girl. So, I just make little bit. Is that enough? You think that's enough for Leena girl? Well, they're going to give YOU STINK EYE, BRO. OKAY, I better I better put more I better put more. All right, here we go. You got to give them some real love.

[00:05:04]>> All right, David.

[00:05:04]>> Some Lahaina love right here, bro.

[00:05:06]>> [laughter] >> There you go. All right, when can we visit uh Puppies Ohana? When you guys open, brother? We open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the bakery unless we sell out. And then we do pizzas from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. or until we sell out as well. For sure. All right, come and get the Lahaina love. Be part of the cinnamon roll congregation here at at Puppies Ohana. David, thank you again, and thank you for letting me, you know, put the cream cheese frosting on this one for Leena girl. Right on, my brother. All right.

[00:05:42]Generous, kind, good people, I tell you.

[00:05:45]It's a small shop. It's a small shop, but they move quickly. Poop poop poop poop poop. They serve serve serve.

[00:05:49]>> And you know, you nailed it when you said generous and kind because with lines like that and that happens every single day, you would think they would be frustrated and >> Yeah, just grouchy people like hurry up.

[00:05:58]What do you want? Da da da da da. Mhm.

[00:06:00]That's not what you get.

[00:06:01]>> Linda had this big smile all morning long that we were there. So much aloha.

[00:06:06]Yes, so much aloha and so much cream cheese frosting on [laughter] that beautiful cinnamon roll.

[00:06:11]>> Very generous.

[00:06:13]When are we going back to Maui? I don't know but I'm going to bring my paint brush.

[00:06:17]>> [laughter] >> I'm going TO BRING THE ROLLER.

[00:06:19]WE GOT TO GET the one you know you wear a backpack and you spray [laughter] on.

[00:06:24]That's how David Linda that's how we coming next time. Careful.

[00:06:28]Puppy's ohana, all right. Just mahalo nui. All right, we're going to take another break right now.