I do think a cruise is a good way to go as we did for a first time. That way you can visit highlight

Since you have only one week and want to see so much, the cruise could make you happy. I think of this as room, board and transportation, not as 'a cruise' on some of the higher end ships. It can be reasonable if you book a Plain Jane cabin, do't run a huge bar tab, and rent a car for DIY sightseeing at some ports instead of taking every $$$ ship's tour. It is the only sane way to see so much in so little time, and you avoid spending hours in airports.
My comment about this being your ONLY trip to Hawaii was in jest. If I had a dime for every person who posted that, then was back posting about a second, third, whatever trip... Most visitors aren't returning to check sights off a list though.
My DH and I have been visiting Hawaii for 30+ years, staying hotels in cancun two to four weeks on each of the four major islands. (We are also taking hotels in cancun a break from our Midwest winters.) Now we just go to South Maui. I was assuming you lived on the west coast and could 'pop over' in only five hours -- compared to our nine-hour flights to HNL (and a bit more to get over to Maui).
I've never done a cruise in Hawaii. It really doesn't interest me. But if I did do a cruise, I would make sure to reserve a rental car at most ports, as like with most cruises, they port in congested touristy areas. If you want to see the islands from afar, a cruise is great. If you want to really see the island, then renting a car and not paying for overpriced lemmin caravan hotels in cancun cruise tours is not the way to go. That, or hire your own tour guide.
Don't do a cruise. You will miss out on so much and feel rushed when in port. Plus all the add on shore excursions are overpriced. And as the others have pointed out, no guarantees that you will get into every port.
Otto2 - Why are you second guessing your original plans because of how others believe you *should* spend your time? It might be best to take a step back and think about the reasons you selected Maui/Kauai in the first place. You do not have to try to fit everything in or cross destinations off a checklist because others hotels in cancun think you should.
If you do the Hawaii hotels in cancun cruise, you'll have one overnight in Maui and one in Kauai. Otherwise you'll need to be back on board the ship for relatively early departures (5:30/6:00 p.m.). hotels in cancun This will greatly limit your ability to have cocktails while watching the sun go down, taking strolls on the beach at night, lying out in a hammock ocean side, enjoying hotels in cancun a leisurely dinner at somewhere hotels in cancun amazing, etc. Do consider the trade offs you'd make. You would "hit" all the islands, but you do lose a lot of flexibility.
I do think a cruise is a good way to go as we did for a first time. That way you can visit highlights of the Islands. We booked a Road Scholar program two years ago taking in four islands beginning with several days in Honolulu. For this program we studied volcanoes, lava floes, canyons, cloud forest, as well as history. This was aboard Pride of America which is a good line.