Maui or Oahu?
 

My fiance and I are planning our July honeymoon for Hawaii. We currently have the first five days of our honeymoon booked for the Hotel Hana Maui and we are trying to figure out where we should book the second 5 days. We are looking at either somewhere else in Maui or to go to Oahu. We are looking at a budget of $250 a night and we want to snorkel in Molokini, take a helicopter tour of an island, and go on a sunset cruise at a minimum. We figure that the time we spend in Hana will be relaxing so we are looking for a little more excitement but nothing too crazy. Thanks for any advice you can give.

On Oahu see if you can find that rate at either - Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Kahala Mandarin, Turtle Bay Hilton or the Ihilani.

We currently have a reservation for March at Ihilani - to get an oceanview we are paying $279 - this was best rate I could get for being Marriot Rewards member. I previously had $297 with AAA. I think mountainview rooms were less but we are going to Hawaii for beaches and ocean and want a view! Not that mountains aren't pretty but we see a lot of green where we live.
If you are flying into Maui you may just want to stay in Maui. It will save you interisland fare.
You can only snorkel Molokini from Maui. However we are planning to do our snorkeling from the shore to save money. From reading trip reports here it sounds as if you can see just as many if not more fish at other spots.
Maybe some experts can give you more input!

Why do you want to snorkle Molokini with dozens of other snorkle boats=bunches of floating tourists?
Rent a car and drive around the island and spend a few days in So. Maui. We love the Maui Prince which is next to Turtle Town, a small bay next to the hotel where the Honu (sea turtles) swim.
The bay there is full of fabulous fish and sea animals (octupus, etc.) and a short drive to Makena and other gorgeous bays.There are lots of other hotels in Wailea that you should shop as well (Renaissance Wailea, Kei Lani, 4 Seasons). Check out OrbitZ, Expedia, UAL American Airlines, etc for rates and contact the hotel you are interested in and ask for the HONEYMOON RATE! (Check out my other issues regarding disturbing construction sites on the island) You can drive from Hana north to Kahalui and then head south-west again to Wailea. Maui is shaped like a woman! The head is North and Kaanapali and Kapalua is North and West at the forehead. Kahalui (the airport and main city ) is at the neck. Hana at the lower mid back at the east and Wailea/ Makena at the West "chest"!
There is also a road from Hana to Wailea via the mountain route and evidently a 4 wheel is required, but it is less windy (curves, not wind) than
the Hana to Kahalui to Wailea route. Check your map, but enjoy Maui.Kaanapali is very touristy, Wailea and Kihei a bit more low key, but not as layed back as Hana...a great honeymoon choice! Do you really need a very touristy big city???!!

The Maui Prince would be a great choice to fit into your budget and there is great snorkeling at the beach there. There are great deals at this hotel on their website and expedia.

Depends on your definition of excitement. Wailea is a prettier resort but Kaanapali has Lahaina so, if excitement means nightlife then Kaanapali. You can do the activities you mentioned equally well from both. To stay in your budget you should decide soon however. Middle of July through the middle August are some of the busiest weeks on Maui so occupancy is tight . But definitely Maui over Oahu

another vote for staying put on Maui. if it were me i would spend the second 5 days in Wailea. we loved it there (stayed at the Outrigger). since you'll be staying in Hana you might find the helicopter tour that we took (Haleakala/Hana) redundant and instead enjoy the West Maui/Molokai trip. i would have liked to take both! as for Molokini: i would say don't bother: we saw tons of people and very, very few fish (this was last week). take the advice about snorkeling from the beaches.

I know you already booked the Hana portion, but am wondering why you chose to spend five whole days there...It's super quiet out there and your dining and recreation choices are limited. Two days would be fun, but five seems like a lot!

I realize this may not be everyone's opinion. But Maui is such a FUN island with so much to do, so many places to eat, and such beautiful resorts, that I really feel your time would be better spent staying in one of the resort areas. Hana is isolated and it's long winding drive back to "civilization" which you aren't going to enjoy making too many times while you're out there. So, that said, I'd suggest you spend your second five days elsewhere in Maui, just so you can see and enjoy all the other things Maui has to offer!

Gellers, I had the same question. 5 days in Hana sounds like 4 days too long, especially when the other side of the island has so much to offer.

wdavis43: There are people out here who believe that the peace, tranquility, and beauty that Hana provides are the main attractions for a trip to the islands and we savor that environment. The last time I was in Maui I spent a week in Hana. I hiked and explored in the morning and hung out at Hamoa Bay in the afternoon. Truly paradise! There is plenty to see and explore in this area that a drive-by trip with the Blue Bible would never be able to reveal. Have a great time!

cueball, that was exactly why we want to spend that much time in Hana. We want a quiet, relaxing 5 days of isolation. I want a lazy 5 days of beach and hiking as you stated. It is during the other 5 days of the trip that we were looking for something a little more happening. I am glad that you enjoyed Hana so much. I am really looking forward to that part of the trip.

Stayed in Kehei during my time on island. This is good alternative to Hana and would offer more excitement and night life if you want a change of pace.

wdavis43: Based on your aims and likes you will love Hana and its environs. My favorite memories of [the real] Maui. There is plenty to do that day trippers could never experience. Enjoy Red Sand (a balancing act to reach), Black Sand, Hamoa beaches, Lindbergh's grave site, Blue Pool and the hikes described in Maui Revealed. Amble through Hasagawa's General Store. Beat the crowds to Oheo.
Take in the view of the Bay from the Fagan Memorial (cross) and traverse the channel to the Queen's Birthplace. The quiet at night is other worldly (though the town has expanded in the past dozen years). I also recommend without pause the Wailea area of Maui. Good, dry weather, small crescent-shaped beaches with very good snorkeling, great views, hotels, condominiums, shops (many generic upscale, though) and restaurants. Kihei, next door, has a beach town vibe you may enjoy. If you seek "nightlife," Lahaina is 45 minutes, though the drive at night at times high above the ocean can be daunting and exhilarating. We've snorkeled Molokini once. There are better off-island trips such as Manele Bay, Lanai. Lots less crowded with people. Not as many human fed fish to greet you before you hit the water.