Kihei or Honokowai?
 

Next winter we will be visiting Hawaii for the first time to celebrate my wife's retirement. After a few days in Waikiki we will spend a week on Maui. While there we will be using a relatives time share points to stay at either the Kihei Kai Nani in Kihei or at the Embassy Resort in Honokowai. The Embassy will cost us $30 per night(maid points,parking, reservation fee,tax) while the Kihei Kai Nani will be $60 for the week(maid points). Both are great deals for us,we're just not sure which area to stay at. Maui Revealed rates the Embassy a "Real Gem"(some here would disagree) while calling the Kihei Kai Nani a "Solid Gold Value." We love the beach, like to swim, hike, surf, kayak, be tourists and of course relax. Have read the negatives about the beach at the Embassy, the positives about the weather at Kikei. We're searching and reading. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

In the winter, I would vote Kihei! Either one would be a good place to stay, I'm sure, but I think, as a retired couple, you might enjoy the Kihei/Wailea area more than the Kaanapali area. You can't go wrong, though, with either. Both are in Hawaii! ;;)

Since you like beach and sun, I would vote for Kihei also. That area is great for long beach walks also. My in-laws stayed at a Kihei property for a month, 12/ 13 years ago when they were in their 70's. They really enjoyed their time there. :-)

I agree,with the other posters, you will be very happy in Kihei, the Kamaole beach park is right there, and the fab beaches to the south.

Embassy Resort:
much quieter area than Kihei but close to Kaanaplai and Lahaina if you want more action; far superior property to Kihei Kai Nani (compare the rates for the two); beachfront property but beach not that great; good beaches nearby.

Kihei Kai Nani:
good property (not great); not beachfront, across the street from good beach; much less desirable area. Kihei has heavy traffic and congestion and is one long strip of malls and condos not unlike any other small town in USA; check areial view of Kihei at:
http://www.valuevacationrentals.com/...6054_26029.jpg

Thanks for the responses. One minute we are headed to Kihei, the next we are sure it's Honokowai(seems like more to explore up there). We will probably just flip a coin. Of course then we have to decide if heads is the Embassy and tails the Kihei Kai Nani or the other way around:-)