My husband and I are planning our first trip to Hawaii for this October. We are planning on 7 nights in O'ahu and 5 nights in Maui and we need help with choosing what hotels to stay at.

While on O'ahu, we are considering staying at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa which is in Ko'olina. The hotel reports that they are 25 miles from Honolulu and 40 miles from the Polynesian Cultural Center. We have enough Marriott points to stay for 7 nights. We have heard that it is relaxing and out of the way, but our concern is that it is maybe too out of the way. We plan on visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, Waimea Falls, Diamond Head, Sea Life Park and Pearl Harbor. We would also like to enjoy some nightlife either in O'ahu or Mau. We plan on renting a car. Is this resort too out of the way? What have people heard about it?

For Maui, we want to be close to some nightlife and places to explore. We are thinking about the Four Seasons (but here that it is under construction), Kea Lani, Hyatt Regency, Westin Maui, Maui Marriott or Renaissance Wailea. What do people recommend?

Since you'll have a car, and since most of the items on your itinerary are not in Waikiki anyway, no you're probably not too out of the way on Oahu. The only catch will be that you'll have to drive to have dinner anywhere but your hotel.

We recently returned from almost the same trip. We loved the Ihilani [Ko Olina]. The rooms were nice and the lagoons were wonderful. Swimming in them was great. They were deeper and larger than I expected. The pool at the hotel left something to be desired, but it was not crowded when we were there despite the hotel being full. The outdoor bar/restaurant is fine for casual meals, and there are three other choices for meals. I highly recommend Azul. Our one regret was that we didn't get there till our last night. If we had, we definitely would have gone back more than once. There is also a nice restaurant at the golf course just down the road which is worth getting to. We planned out our days to make the most of them. One day was spent going around the south circle of the island. Another was spent going around the north loop, which is no farther than if you were staying in Waikiki. Pearl Harbor is about 40 min. away [remember you're not allowed to bring any pocketbooks, bags, etc. when you go there]. The rooms at Ihilani have a frig you can use, and safes, so leave your valuables behind in the safe.

On Maui, we stayed at the Marriott at Kaanapali, and I was disappointed in it. Part of it may have been that it was a dissapointment after Ko Olina, but aside from resort comparisons, the beachfront was way too crowded. So, where you stay on Maui depends on what your personal preferences are. We checked out the Renaissance Wailea before heading for the airport at the end of our trip, and that is where I'd stay next time. The Wailea are is more lush and tropical and just suited my taste more. The pluses for Kaanapali are that it is near Lahaina and an easy walk to Whaler's Village. The Hyatt and Marriott are right next to each other. That area is farther from Hana and Haleakala though, if you plan to get to either of those spots. You mentioned being close to more nightlife on Maui, and I suspect that would more likely be Kaanapali.

You may want to split your Oahu stay and use your points also at the Marriott Wakiki Beach Resort. I have stayed there 3 times on points in the last year. It's newly renovated, in a great location near all the "action." I really loved this spot. A deluxe ocean view is the best, espcially on a high floor. A room ending in "33" and up high is to die for.

I agree you might want to split your points on Oahu and stay at the Marriott Waikiki. Marriott has (at least they did last summer) a hawaii package where the points can be split 2,3,or 4 nights for a total of 7. We were upgraded to the front of the hotel as Marriott members at no charge at check-in. Room and view was wonderful. Also stayed at Maui Renaissance-wonderful!. There was construction starting next door a year ago, don't know if its finished.

We are staying at the 4 Seasons in Maui in September. When we were notified that there would be construction going on we called the hotel directly. They said it would be in the health club and that there was a $50/day rebate. We decided to keep the reservation and not switch hotels.

I attended a wedding at the Ihilani a year ago -- that place is fantastic. We are from los angeles so driving is no big deal to us. Waikiki is not for me, waaaaayyy to crowded. If you seek lots of nightlife, restaurants, etc stay in the city, otherwise you will love the Ihilani. ps, their orchid lotion is still my fav, worth the 15$ purchase from the spa!