I think if the goal is just a "beach holiday" then I wouldn't do either if I were living in the east coast. A 16+ hour flight defeats the purpose of a week long relaxing holiday imo (which is why I have no desire to do Bora Bora or Fiji on their own). If I were living in the Eastern US and I was after OW bungalows, I would look to the Caribbean.

As it currently stands for me, given the quality of the resorts and the odyssey of the 20+ hour flight to get to Bora Bora, I will stick to Maldives for the sole purpose of getting some winter sun and switching off. Laucala is on my radar for the future when I need to visit New Caledonia (and hopefully get to see Vanuatu also on the side).