Lectraplayer, you can buy new "cruiser wheels" that are cheap and reliable and probably lighter than your original ones. Id just do that unless you want something fancy like a multigear hub. Them keep your original wheels in case you ever want to put the old cruiser back in factory trim.

If you want to carry a lot of crap you really can't beat the wire mesh pannier baskets made by Wald. They weigh a quarter ton and look like hell on wheels but no one ever complained about carrying capacity. If you don't have a luggage rack already there is a version that bolts directly to the frame. For more elegant options there are reproduction fifties style racks to which you can attach separate baskets. Most likely your local bike shop has all these things in stock or can get them on short notice.