Looking at where to stay on Maui. So confused about which area to pick to stay at. We don't want to be packing and moving so need a home base area? Opinions on each area please!!!!

Assuming that you will be renting a car, the northwest coast of Maui from Lahaina to Kapalua is a popular vacation area with many resorts to choose from, with better snorkeling towards the north.
Favorite Maui Activities:
1. Road to Hana (dinner at Mama's Fish House)
2. Sunrise at Haleakala
3. Whalewatch from Lahaina, (or snorkeling trip if summer)

I know! Isn't it ridiculous the amount of hotels to choose from?? We stayed at the Westin on Kaanapali Beach (easy choice for us because my in-laws had stayed there and enjoyed it).
There's a whole lot of hotels on that stretch so lots to choose from if you don't want the Westin.
The beach in that area is nice.
There's a mini-mall right next to the Westin with casual restaurants and stores (so you can get food at decent prices compared to the hotels' ridiculous prices).
We didn't feel that area was too crowded..but we went in September 2001 and tourism wasn't doing so well (economy and post-september 11th)..so not sure how hopping things are now.
You can book any type of excursions through your hotel. We went snorkeling and we did the road to Hana. You'll hear lots of conflicting reports about the road to Hana. We enjoyed it because we like scenic routes and we had a fabulous knowledgeable driver.

Wailea is drier, less crowded and tonier, with low rise, low density development and short, crescent shaped beaches. Kaanapali has many highrise developments and a narrow, long beach. Each is fairly convenient to the attractions first-timers desire, e.g. Haleakala and Hana, though Kaanapali is closer to Lahaina. Maui is small enough so that any place can be reached in a few hours drive from either base, though seasoned travelers will tell you Hana is a full day's trip from either. I think Wailea is prettier.

Kaanapali area pros: closer to Lahaina, Kaanapali Beach very beautiful and tourist-oriented, fantastic snorkeling at Black Rock just below the Sheraton Kaanapali, Kapalua and Napili bays are lovely. Cons: a bit more rain, a bit more touristy, a bit more expensive (maybe, depends on where you stay).
Wailea area pros: gorgeous beaches (Wailea, Ulua, Makena), great snorkeling at these and at Ahihi Reserve, access to a regular "town" at Kihei (has, however, been called the Bakersfield of Hawaii), less rain than the north, the Wailea hotels are lovely.
Cons: a stiff wind blows every day from noon to 5 p.m. Kihei is very non-touristy and can have traffic jams, and has nowhere near the charm of Lahaina.

Driving between the two areas can mire you in traffic. There is only one two-lane road and it gets VERY busy. Condos in both areas are a great bargain, in the North the most economical are in Kahana, a few minutes north of Kaanapali.

I know the feeling, as last year i was booking 14 days on 3 islands. So here is my take on Maui. The beach in front of your hotel is very important is you like the water. If you dont care for the water pick the hotel for its grounds and view.

If you like the water pick ,Pick one of the hotels in whalers village, the sheraton on one end the hyatt on the other with the marriott,kaanapalli ali,westin,whaler (condos),kaanapalli beach hotel ( good lower cost choice), all in between.

As for the Wailea area is very nice and good areas to snorkle. There are many hotels to chose from, i dont know them well ,mabe someone else can help you there.The hotel may or may not be on a good section of beach, this is where some reaserch or a good travel agent can come in handy, and do cross check any rates with known discount web sites like orbitz, hotels .com,and others.

Pices for whalers village are from $175.00 per nite to unlimited.Now dont let someone tell you other hotels are on kaanapalli beach the ones i listed are the only ones on the best section.All the other hotels( in kaanapalli ) are on a rough beach not sutible for swimming or snorkling. NICK

We went to Maui in March - agnonized about everything.... where to go, where to stay. We ended up in Wailea and loved it. We went to Kannapali for a day - and loved it. Pick one and don't worry... It's all very nice...

We've stayed at the Hyatt (2X) and the Marriott on Kaanapali Beach. We love it there. Watching the torch lighting at sunset at the Sheraton is really a great way to end the day. We've stayed during the off seasons so the crowds were low.

On the other hand the snorkeling in Wailea was much better. I thought the area reminded me of Palm Springs. Very upscale and desert tropics.

I agree that you really can't go wrong no matter which location you choose!