For Gold status its Citi Reserve (life of the card, $95 AF) vs Amex Surpass (1st year, $75 AF). The earn rates differ - but ultimately you will wind up with a mix of both.

Sample approaches (5 cards each approach, no chase cards):

Option A:
Citi Reserve - 2 weekend nights, gold for as long as you have the card, no forex fee, $95 AF, spend 40K for diamond.
Citi Hilton - 50K
No Fee Amex - 65K + AXON reward access
BOA/BOH - Hawaiian cards - 35K each transfers to 70K each $79 AFx2.

Total 2 weekend nights; 255K points; gold as long as you hold, AXON; $253 AF.

Option B -
Amex Surpass - 60K (?), Gold year 1, spend 40K for diamond, AXON reward access.
Two Citi Hhonors cards - 100K
BOA/BOH - Hawaiian cards - 35K each transfers to 70K each $79 AFx2.

300K points; Gold year 1; AXON; $233 AFs.

Option A is a little stronger, though I like points more than award nights in most cases.