Many people nowadays are travelling to the outer islands, e.g. Maui, Kaua'i, and the Big Island, but Oahu has so much to offer that it shouldn't be missed. If you do travel to an outer island, at least consider a one day tour of Oahu, flying over to Honolulu. Tours will pick you up from the airport, drive you to a local restaurant for breakfast, then continue to several Honolulu hotels to pick up the rest of the tour members.
If you choose to stay on Oahu, the beaches of Waikiki are fantastic! Yes, it has become quite built up in the area, but the ocean offers you a relaxing site to visit. You may want to take a sunset sail, or walk over to the beautiful shops just a short walk from the beach.
Not far away is Diamond Head and Kaimana Beach. You may wish to hike up to the dormant volcanic cone of Diamond Head. At the top you have nearly 180 degree views of the southern half of Oahu. You may wish to visit the Memorial Gardens there from WWII. After your hike take a short ride to Diamond Head Market & Grill (3158 Monsarrat Ave) for a plate lunch. Try some delicious local cuisine. Later head to Kapiolani Park for a stroll, or head for a swim in Kaimana Beach.
Make sure to visit the Bishop Museum (1525 Bernice St., Honolulu) where you'll easily spend a whole day learning about the Hawaiian royal family, indigenous plants, see the largest collection of feather cloaks on the islands, and seeing the local skies and stars in their planetarum. You can eat there, bring a picnic, or leave and return after eating at some other local restaurant. Once you pay your entry (they have children & senior citizen prices) you can come and go on that same day.
You certainly can't go to Oahu without visiting Pearl Harbor. You will learn about what happened on December 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked the U.S. Navy's collection of warships, including the USS Arizona, the watery grave of over 1100 men. The short boat trip out to the USS Arizona Memorial is a highlight of the trip. While there, don't forget to visit the USS Missouri, a typical WWII battleship. You can package both when you purchase your entry.
Don't skip visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), BYU-Hawaii, and the beautiful grounds of the Laie LDS Temple and its Visitors Center.
You can spend the whole day at the PCC. At least one meal iis ncluded in the price of entry depending on what you choose to do. Visit the PCC during the day and you get a buffet meal for lunch. Visit it at night, for the performance on stage, and you may choose between a sit-down meal, or the buffet. Consider spending the whole day there and learning all about the games, instruments, dancing and foods of the polynesian cultures from the South Seas to Hawaii. During the day, make sure to catch the canoe show, where the many different cultures perform native dances from their culture in colorful costumes on large canoes. At night, sit back on your seat in the amphitheater and enjoy the theme of the performances on stage in the cool night air.
While on the North Shore, take a view of Waimea Bay, an area known for their towering waves. Take a hike on the paved Waimea Valley trails to the park's waterfalls and jump into it's deep freshwater pool.
Hanauma Bay Nature Perserve at Oahu's southeasternmost point allows you to snorkel among the many tropical fish protected by the bay. Equipment is available for rent there, or bring your own. Get there early, or late in the day, to avoid the crowds. Take a walk to the scenic Makapuu lighthouse, and watch the paragliders along the rugged shoreline. If you are there between November and April, you will definitely catch a view of the humpback whales that visit the islands for winter.
A visit to Oahu should definitely include a visit to the Iolani Palace, the only palace in the country by the Hawaiian monarchs (364 S. King St.). The last Hawaiian queen (Queen Liliuokalani) was imprisoned there by American leaders after she was abdicated her throne in 1895. A short walk from there is the Hawaii State Art Museum (250 Hotel St.) which presents the works of Hawaiian artists. Even lunch is a work of art at the Museum, or stroll through Chinatown, nearby.
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