With some help from the other travel bidding forum I made several offers for a "Resort" in Kaanapali via priceline with no love going all the way up to $210. Since I wanted to avoid the Sheraton Maui (heard mixed reviews) I went to Hotwire and bid on the 4.5* "Customer Favorite" Resort. I assumed it would be the Hyatt Regency as indicated in the Hotwire hotel list here, and from other winning bids, but it ended up being the Westin Maui, which is just fine with me. There was a 4* Resort also listed for $296 a night. Not sure if it was the Sheraton or if the Hyatt got downgraded. Interesting thing: Initially searched for 12/18 - 12/25 a couple days ago. Got $221 a night. Searched yesterday, got $243 a night. Searched again today, got $219 a night. Went through the checkout process and all of a sudden "the itinerary is not available." :) Closed browser, cleared cookies, got $298 a night. HUH? Switched from Firefox to Internet explorer, got $268 a night. Strange. Went back to firefox, and sat there for 30 minutes trying different trip dates. It seems that the 23rd-25th were touchy dates. Ended up booking 12/18-12/24 for $235, and decided to have a 6-day trip instead of a 7-day after seeing the Hotwire price for 12/25 leap up to $374. Criminy! Overall I feel like I got a great deal but I'm really irritated at Hotwire. Not for the price fluctuations, it was explained by a rep earlier, but the fact that they offer these prices and then go "Oops, not available, try again." That's just poor business practice IMO.
