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Help with Best Marriott Choice in Hawaii?

GregT

TUG Member
TUG Member
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Carlsbad, CA
Resorts Owned
Marriott: Maui Ocean Club Lahaina Villas (3BRx5), Ko Olina, Shadow Ridge II, Willow Ridge, Aruba Ocean Club, DC Points HGVC: Flamingo, Sea World, I-Drive, Starwood Bella (x4), SDO, TradeWinds, Worldmark
I have always had a difficult time trying to understand the big to do about Maui. I usually go to all of the islands at least every other year and I feel that Maui is by far the most OVERRATED resort. It’s not the most beautiful island. That distinction belongs to Kauai in my humble opinion. I say that because it still has all of that Hawaii natural beauty.

The beach at the MOC is not the best in my opinion because you have to get by the walkway which is not too bad but the beach is getting smaller and smaller. In addition, each time I go to Maui, I feel as if there is less and less to see and do. Heck, I can do all the stuff Maui has to offer here in my neighborhood in the OC in California.

Here is why I believe Ko Olina is the way to go. (I am not being biased because I own there either.) Kauai is my favorite. Oahu is a great spot for first timers because it has it ALL! If you go to the North Shore you will see good old picturesque Hawaii! It has all the charm and beauty of a Hawaiian island. Plus, with the new highway (well it used to be new), you don’t have to go all the way through downtown to get there so you can avoid the traffic. Secondly, it’s got a CITY too! You can do all the shopping you desire and if you want to visit Waikiki Beach to people watch and just be in the middle of it all, you have that option. I do it every time I go. I even go to the beach there just to do it. It’s always fun. Yes, there is traffic, but man it’s still fun and worth the drive for a first timer. I remember when I had my three year old there a few years ago. She loved Ko Olina’s beach. She still does at six, but she loves the slide at the pool even more. With Disney just a stone throw away, your three year old will love a character breakfast or dinner over at Aulani.

NO OTHER ISLAND OFFERS THE VARIETY OF OAHU. I have done them all and done them many times on the same trip. I always save the best for the last, Oahu. It gets me ready to face the reality of home. I don’t think there would be a debate about which island has the most variety of things to do. Oahu offers everything that the other island have in some degree, but the other islands don’t have all of the things that Oahu has to offer.

This is just one man’s opinion. You cannot go wrong with Ko Olina.

Hello Charles,

Your comments are interesting and appreciated -- I agree, there are advantages and disadvantages to each island, Maui included. I love each of the islands for different reasons.

But there are several things specifically about Maui Ocean Club that I think are unique. I note the following (in no particular order):

- It was originally constructed many years ago as a hotel, accordingly it has a large and expansive footprint on a prime location. If Maui Ocean Club was built today, the real estate would be too valuable to construct in this manner and the pool would be much smaller and the property would be much more dense. The Hyatt timeshare (and its amenities) are examples of this as is Nanea up the road.

- It has large grass areas -- a favorite of mine to be ocean-front but without "the burden" of sand. I love this about Kaanapali in general, that you have ocean access without the sand problem.

- The close proximity to Whalers Village and Black Rock provide tremendous walking destinations, very different from what the other Marriott (or Starwood or HGVC) Hawaii properties offer.

- It is a true resort -- you could spend two weeks at the property and never drive anywhere. This is an advantage of Kaanapali in general, and the amenities and feel of the property.

- Cabanas rock -- I keep waiting for Ko Olina to incorporate a grass area cabana system.

- the new towers are very well appointed -- I think MOC new towers feels more like Ritz Carlton St. Thomas than it does to Shadow Ridge. Ko Olina (which I love) units feel more like Shadow Ridge/Imperial Palms/Waiohai/Kings Land/Lagoon Tower at Hilton Hawaiian Village. They are very nice (and I own and love some of them) but there is a difference.

- the super pool is amazing - maybe this is a repeat of the first point, that we benefit from the years ago construction (and land prices) but the super pool is much more akin to a Kaanapali or Wailea hotel pool then it is to a timeshare pool. Even Ko Olina's superpool is about one-third the size.

- Excursions are accessible just steps away (banana boat/parasailing/etc)

- It is cool to have something to look at on the horizon (Lanai). One of my favorite things about Kauai Lagoons was being able to see the waves crash up on the adjacent mountain shoreline. Beautiful sight.

I agree with many of your comments on Oahu too -- I love that place and there is alot to do. But Maui Ocean Club remains my favorite property for many reasons, and perhaps sentimentality is one of them! Thank you for the thoughtful post.

Best,

Greg
 

brianfox

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Apr 14, 2007
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Thousand Oaks
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Marriott Waiohai x3
Just one more thing that Oahu offers that the other islands don’t. That’s is a night life. Now if you’re an old ruddy daddy like me and not really into dancing and such, Oahu offers a night life. Now I am originally from New York City so I grew up in a city that never sleeps. It took me a while to adjust to the snail’s pace of Southern California. However, know that the City of Honolulu does offer a variety of night life that the other islands just do not have.

Again, if you just want to get away from it all and have peace and tranquility and stay at your resort, Kauai, Maui, and The Big Island are perfect for you. However, if you want to have it all, then Oahu is the place to go and Ko Olina with its traffic as a possible drawback offers something for everyone.

I'd agree that Waikiki offers a nightlife experience, but the rest of Oahu is like the rest of Hawaii - mostly in bed by 9pm. Traveling between Ko Olina and Waikiki is an ordeal at best.
 

dagger1

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
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Houston
Resorts Owned
Hyatt Wild Oak Ranch, Hyatt Main Street Station, Hyatt Ka’anapali; Marriott Ko’Olina, Marriott Waiohai; Marriott Maui Ocean Club; Wyndham CWA points, Worldmark credits.
Just one more thing that Oahu offers that the other islands don’t. That’s is a night life. Now if you’re an old ruddy daddy like me and not really into dancing and such, Oahu offers a night life. Now I am originally from New York City so I grew up in a city that never sleeps. It took me a while to adjust to the snail’s pace of Southern California. However, know that the City of Honolulu does offer a variety of night life that the other islands just do not have.

Again, if you just want to get away from it all and have peace and tranquility and stay at your resort, Kauai, Maui, and The Big Island are perfect for you. However, if you want to have it all, then Oahu is the place to go and Ko Olina with its traffic as a possible drawback offers something for everyone.
We have been going to Oahu for years, visiting our son who was stationed there. We have driven from Ko’Olina to Honolulu and Waikiki, to Kaneohe and Kailua, and all over the north shore. I have never experienced traffic (probably very lucky) like the gridlock on Kauai. I do agree that there is a lot to do on Oahu, just a lot of variation. But (other than the traffic), we did really like Kauai. We are going back (to Waiohai) in November, no Oahu this trip).
 

Dean

TUG Review Crew
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I have always had a difficult time trying to understand the big to do about Maui. I usually go to all of the islands at least every other year and I feel that Maui is by far the most OVERRATED resort. It’s not the most beautiful island. That distinction belongs to Kauai in my humble opinion. I say that because it still has all of that Hawaii natural beauty.

The beach at the MOC is not the best in my opinion because you have to get by the walkway which is not too bad but the beach is getting smaller and smaller. In addition, each time I go to Maui, I feel as if there is less and less to see and do. Heck, I can do all the stuff Maui has to offer here in my neighborhood in the OC ihere n California.

Here is why I believe Ko Olina is the way to go. (I am not being biased because I own there either.) Kauai is my favorite. Oahu is a great spot for first timers because it has it ALL! If you go to the North Shore you will see good old picturesque Hawaii! It has all the charm and beauty of a Hawaiian island. Plus, with the new highway (well, it used to be new), you don’t have to go all the way through downtown to get there so you can avoid the traffic. Secondly, it’s got a CITY too! You can do all the shopping you desire and if you want to visit Waikiki Beach to people watch and just be in the middle of it all, you have that option. I do it every time I go. I even go to the beach there just to do it. It’s always fun. Yes, there is traffic, but man it’s still fun and worth the drive for a first timer. I remember when I had my three year old there a few years ago. She loved Ko Olina’s beach. She still does at six, but she loves the slide at the pool even more. With Disney just a stone throw away, your three year old will love a character breakfast or dinner over at Aulani.

NO OTHER ISLAND OFFERS THE VARIETY OF OAHU. I have done them all and done them many times on the same trip. I always save the best for the last, Oahu. It gets me ready to face the reality of home. I don’t think there would be a debate about which island has the most variety of things to do. Oahu offers everything that the other island have in some degree, but the other islands don’t have all of the things that Oahu has to offer.

This is just one man’s opinion. You cannot go wrong with Ko Olina.
It's all personal choice and feel and I suspect some of my thoughts are colored by having lived there for 3 years years ago. We lived in Waikiki for 2 months at the beginning and another 2 months at the end with a 3 year stint in Kaneohe literally right by the valley of the temples. Oahu does have a lot to offer but IMO much of it is a one and done type of offering. Traffic and parking are issues, the resorts are not in a good location conducive to much of the exploring that I personally tend to do and it is the most commercialized by far. Overall we prefer Maui and Oahu is our least favorite comparatively speaking but we still enjoy going esp if we have others with us so we can share the culture and history. There certainly are a lot of things to do if one wants to get off the beaten path and look for them but that's true anywhere.
 

BocaBoy

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Jun 5, 2009
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Wisconsin
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Grand Chateau
Hi, thank you, everyone. At this time my only choices are Kauai Lagoons, Ko Olina and and Waikoloa Ocean Club. From what I learned, I should choose either Ko or Waikoloa, as the Lagoons are not on a beach, and you have to take a shuttle bus to a beach. I also learned that the only downside to Ko Olina is that it is very big. This is our first trip to hawaii and we were thinking of staying in one place. Does anyone have a comment as to which they think is nicer, Ko versus Waikoloa?
Ko Olina is a much nicer resort. Waikoloa is a hotel conversion--a very good one, but a conversion nonetheless.

And I would not be so quick to reject Kauai Lagoons. Next to the new towers at Maui Ocean Club, it is our favorite of the 31 MVCI resorts we have stayed at. We have been there 4 or 5 times.
 

rifralex

TUG Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
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Chairman level Points
Hello again, everyone. I just had to give all of you another very heartfelt thank you! Your comments have been of tremendous value for my family and I. I let my wife and daughter read this TUG string, and we were all very impressed and grateful. I'm sure soon enough shortly I will happily return the favor to a newbie like myself.

Sincerely, Frank
 
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