I can sympathise with Storm, we lost a cat one year while we were on holiday, my partner was upset for days.
PHX is a great holiday destination as far as I am concerned, I am off for the 21st time in a fortnights time. If you don't mind the heat, out of season house hire can be cheaper than a hotel and some are simply amazing.
Of course BA fly direct from LHR on clapped out 747's, but if you go AA via CLT from DUB you arrive earlier and BA289 to PHX often runs late, Ive done it several times and like you, I like CLT.
I haven't been to Hawaii for over 10 years now and as nice as it is, your observations on costs have struck a chord, so instead after PHX I am going to do an Amtrak trip to Portland.