Hi. So we just booked a flight to Maui for September 2016. Will be going with another family. Total 8 people (4 adults and 4 toddlers) coming from California. All first timers. Thinking of doing airbnb for lodging because we are staying for 7 days. What area is the best? Could u recommend an itinerary please? Places to go. Where to eat? We like to explore places that locals go to, too. Thanks in advance.

Same advice as for the Big Island: get a condo. South kihei is a great location, has many choices, all across from Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III, with nice water for toddlers. You seem focused on airbnb, but your budget and range of choice will be better served by vrbo.
For example, a 2/2 at Hale Kamaole can be rented in the $150 range.

With that many people, look into a couple of 2 bedroom condos, we stayed at a condo in Honokawai, I would look into Napili area, very nice beaches and close to Kapalua. Some people like Kihei, we did not, the day we drove down they were burning sugar cane in the hills above town. Second time we went for an early dinner and traffic coming back to West Maui was terrible.
Be careful with airbnb, all the islands are having a problem right now with illegal vacation rentals and airbnb does not verify their listings.

No more sugar cane fires on Maui. Sugar is being phased out.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/n...aying-off.html

Agree about renting condos. We also stayed near Honokawai. Easy access to Lahaina, Kanapali or up the coast towards Napili and Kapalua.

I'm also not a fan of Kihei (except Kihei Kaffe, which is great!). Given the choice, with kids I would stay in Kaanapali or Napili.

Thank you for all your responses. Now. I have an idea of where to begin searching for lodging. I only knew airbnb. But you guys are definitely an awesome source of information. I'm glad I finally settled on a location to vacation. So excited for the day to come. Again, thank you!

Please remember to not wait too long; as someone else said, Thanksgiving is a popular time!

Our family rented condos at Lahaina Shores (condo/hotel) walking distance from the town and with parking available for the rental cars.

The highlights of that trip for me were: going up Haleakala (mid-morning, not for sunrise), the Old Lahaina Luau, and a show called U'lalena (music and dance and island history).

Also consider using VRBO for condo. I have always had excellent luck using them on Maui. Honokawai is a great suggestion. Look into the Mahana or Maui Kai. To Do: Hana, Haleakala Crater for sunrise, Snorkel catamaran, west Maui mountain drive, Kapalua, DT Fleming State Beach, Warren & Annabell's Magic Show, Ulalena, Luau maybe if you are into cheesy.

I did not find the Old Lahaina Luau "cheesy" at all. It was a beautiful and memorable evening for all in our group.

We did the Feast at Lele. It was fantastic. Not cheesy. With kids that little, you will probably spend a lot of beach and pool time.

Kihei or Napili might be best. We have stayed in Kihei several times and found it to be a good base for both the south and west shores. There seemed to be a good variety of condos there. Kihei seems slightly less upscale and I think it would be good for families with young kids. Agree that your best bet would be a place with a pool.

We drove into Lahaina every evening (during October/November) for dinner/shopping/people watching. Another vote for Ulalena show -- it can be very moving.

"Please remember to not wait too long...Thanksgiving is a popular time!"

Not only that, but I saw this link on another forum yesterday, and read further that the VRBO booking fee will be introduced later this month: http://skift.com/2015/11/04/expedias...for-travelers/.

We prefer the northwest coast of Maui (between the north end of Kaanapali Beach and Kapalua); it feels and looks more like the Hawaii we dreamt about. But I think you'll find better budget options in/near Kihei and weather is more dependably reliable in that area at that time of year too.

The Sugar Cane Train might be fun for the little ones, if it reopens by the time you're there: http://www.sugarcanetrain.com/.

They are going in September 2016.

Right; some of us were going off the first post by the OP.

Homeaway is not VRBO. But they will follow, no doubt.

Homeaway owns VRBO, so I imagine the policy will change across the various sites Homeaway owns.

Yeah, here's a link to VRBO's site: https://www.vrbo.com/info/upgrades. Scroll down to Service Fee. And they call this an "upgrade"? Maybe to someone who owns a piece of Expedia.

That stinks; I don't know if a 4 to 10% fee is going to send me away to a hotel or not, but i know that vrbo listers already pay for the inclusion, and more $ to be listed at the top, or for photos, etc. Suspect this will be paid for by the owners in the form of reduced rates or other.
Greed and gouging.