Nothing in Hawai'i is cheap, but this place was definitely a good value compared to many hotel options that had fewer amenities and much smaller units.
We had to communicate with Vacasa a couple of times (internet connection didn't work with the provided info, and A/C stopped working) and in both cases they sent someone to fix the problem within 12h.
The location of the hotel was great -- close to the beach, supermarket, main freeway, etc. The unit was outside of the U-shaped tower, and facing north-ish, so we could still see the ocean from the bedroom and the living room. Note that to go to Dukes, the pools, the beach, etc. you had to exit through the inside of the U -- by looking at the pictures, I was scared we were going to be too far from the beach, but that was not the case. A note on Dukes -- it is exactly what you expect -- not incredible, not disappointing, just a reliable and convenient option (many places close early!) with great service (and great mai-tais)!
The unit itself was great too -- it was *very* spacious, the kitchen had all the necessary utensils (and they were vey nice too), the bathroom had many towels and soaps, and there were beach towels, beach chairs, books and games in the closet. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
As for outside of the hotel -- renting a car is expensive, but you must absolutely do it (parking is included!). You must do the road to Hana, visit the Haleakala National Park (through Road to Hana on the East), the Haleakala crate of the volcano (accessed through the West). Plan to stay until after sunset to see the most spectacular night sky you've ever seen. Go to different beaches -- they are all so different! We went snorkeling and saw a beautiful turtle, and we also went spearfishing and we got to cook our own octopus and lobster for dinner that night.
Overall, it was the best trip of my life (SO romantic, adventurous but always feeling very safe, absolutely beautiful in so many different ways). I already look forward to going back :')