"Oahu" Oahu by malianrob

My husband was born and raised in Oahu. He lived in Maui for a little while too before moving to California when he was in his teens.
We travel back to Hawaii often to see his family or to vacation. Living in California you can get some pretty good fares to visit Hawaii.
My most recent visit is July 2009.

I love traveling in Hawaii and my husband and kids love seeing their family.
There are 6 main inhabited islands and Oahu has always been the most popular although Maui is coming up pretty close.

My fist memory of Hawaii is when I was in my pre teen years and my parents booked a family vacation to Hawaii. It was my mom and dad and my sisters and I. We stayed in Waikiki of course and we saw alot of things. My mom booked us on as many tours as possible. It was great memories. I dont know where those pictures went but I am going to try to look for them and post before and after shots.
The problem with my husband being from Hawaii is that he is not interested at all in doing the whole sight seeing thing. When I come to Hawaii with my husband we do more local stuff, go to different beaches, possible Ewa Beach or somewhere in Makaha. Like Pray for Sex Beach which is what some locals call the beach in that area. We might also be in Kailua with more family.
My last trip in July 2009 I did the whole tourist thing. I wanted my kids to see Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, a Luau, Hanauma Bay, North Shore, and all those things. We had an incredible time. We had fun at the Dole Plantation and swam with dolphins at Sea Life park. The kids loved doing that.

If you have seven days on Oahu and you dont have a clue where to start and what to do try this:
Day 1
Arizona Memorial - Pearl Harbor Monument - Visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial afterward.
Hawaii's Plantation Village - This theme park styled village serves two purposes: to entertain and to educate.
Day 2
North Shore -Hale'iwa - If you only have time to explore one thing outside Waikiki and Honolulu, let it be the town of Hale'iwa.
North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Day 3
Downtown Honolulu -Chinatown
Foster Botanical Garden
Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
Day 4
Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve
Sandy's Beach
Makapuu Beach
Day 5
Waikiki
Honolulu Zoo
Waikiki Aquarium
Diamond Head State Monument
Day 6
Manoa
Manoa Falls - thought to be one of the most beautiful sights on Oahu. Harold L. Lyon Arboretum - Less a botanical plant garden and more a wooded, trail-filled forest, this research institution is a paradise on earth. Leave time to hike up to Aihualama Falls, about 1 1/2 miles from the park entrance.
Day 7
Sea Life Park
Byodo-In Temple - At the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains stands a replica of a 900-year-old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan.
Kailua Beach Park
Lanikai Beach (my favorite)