We just got back from Lanai and Maui a couple of weeks ago. We stayed at the Manele Bay Hotel for 3 nights. I would highly recommend staying there. We were told that the rooms were slightly larger than the Lodge. Maybe split your time as you suggested. But not too much to do over there (or too many places to eat). As far as Maui, this was our 3rd time and we loved the Wailea area. I think staying at the Four Seasons the whole time would be great. There are some beautiful beaches in the Wailea area.
Also, we styed at the Orchid at Mauna Lani on the Big Island about a year and a half ago - we loved it. We took a helicopter tour over the volcano and saw many beautiful waterfalls.
Maui and Lanai will be beautiful however you do it, though. Hope that helps!

Hi Gina:

Last month my husband and I spent 15 nights on Maui and Lanai. We spent 4 nights at Manele Bay (the max for that island, I think!) then took the ferry to Lahaina. We then spent 2 nights at the Lahaina Inn. Then we drove to Hana and spent 4 nights at the Hotel Hana Maui followed by the last 5 nights at the Four Seasons.

Staying in Lahaina for a few nights was fun. The Hotel Hana Maui is a great hotel, and the Four Seasons all luxury and pampering.

Dear Gina, Seeing and doing all that Hawaii has to offer is my passion. Lanai is a wonderful island but it is tiny and many people are bored to death there. If you are looking for restaurants, shopping, and site seeing, you won't find it on Lanai. What you will find are friendly people who will know your name as soon as you arrive and a place to escape from the world. The weather at the Manele is usually preferred to that at the Koele but for fine dining take the bus to the Koele. If I was going to stay on Maui for very many days, I would devide my time between the Ka'anapali area and the Wailea area. If you want to see Hawaii's most beautiful island then you should visit Kauai. The view from the pool at the Princeville Resort is fantastic/unbelieveable and the Hyatt in Poipu is the Hawaii of your dreams. Donna

When you're in Maui be sure to take in the show "Warren and Annabelle's" in Lahaina. It's a fabulous night that you two will never regret. Buy directly from the theatre and take the full package rather than buying from one of the tour stands around the island. Have fun! Good luck!

we are heading out tomorrow for 5 nights in Kaanapali, 4 nights in Lanai at the lodge, which we can move down if we choose when we get there...can't make that decision until we see the resorts, and then 5 nights in Wailea....I'll post my opinion when I get back!!!

Thanks for this post as I've always wanted to visit Lanai too. Logistical question for anyone who has been to Lanai from Maui: usually we'd fly into Maui and rent a car the whole time. What do you do with the car when you want to take the ferry to Lanai? What happens when you come back from the ferry and want to spend a few more nights on Maui? Would you just rent from Kahului Airport and then return at Lahaina and then do the reverse when you come back? Does anyone know if the cost of this is greater than when you rent and return at the same location? Thanks!