Tough having such great choices
Let me preface it by saying we love Aruba. I really like Maui too, and if I lived on the West coast, that might be my preference. Can't beat the lush tropical beauty. Hawaii is gorgeous, and there's so much to love. That said, the reasons why Aruba is our go-to destination are:unlike some of the other Caribbean islands, we feel safe there, and free to wander about. Lots of great restaurants (and typically more to our taste than those in Hawaii, but of course that's personal preference. It's below the hurricane belt, so rarely have bad weather. In 20 plus visits we had 2 hours one afternoon where it rained and impacted our day. All other rains we've had were either overnight or those typical 10 minute cloud bursts. Our last trip to Maui it rained most of the day for 6 out of 7 days; nevertheless, we had a great time, but there was a day we gave up sitting outside because it was just too chilly to lay by the pool in a bathing suit, even with a cover-up and towel over. There's always a breeze in Aruba, so it never feels HOT, even during the summer months, whereas July in Maui will feel uncomfortably hot at times. From NY area it's an easy 4 1/4 hour flight, and either the same time zone or 1 hour difference, depending on the year. So there's never a hassle with jet lag, nor the exhaustion that always accompanies a long flight with connections. While there is the hassle of customs, at least you clear US customs while in Aruba, so the flight home is easy; the 3 hour check-in due to multiple security screenings will be streamlined by 2020, with a single security check in the works as the Aruba airport is revamped.
Everyone has their own preferences, and I'd really suggest planning a visit before buying.
