There are many things to do in Hawaii, with something for everyone! Here are just a few suggestions.

Snorkel or dive at Haunama Bay

The photo on the left was taken by Charmayne, so this place really is THAT gorgeous! This "Curved" bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967. This is THE BEST protected cove if you are new to scuba diving or snorkeling with a diverse population of marine life and a large, rich coral reef. Advanced snorkelers and divers can also enjoy the beauty of this bay as the reef extends throughout the cove into deeper water. The bay floor is actually the crater of an ancient volcano that flooded when the exterior wall collapsed and the ocean rushed in.
There is a large sandy beach perfect for sunbathing, relaxing and picnics. Several hiking trails extend along the coastline and along the ridge overlooking the bay providing breathtaking lookouts.
The curvature of the bay usually provides protection from large ocean waves so gives swimmers a terrific opportunity to view the marine and reef life in a safer, protected environment.
You can get more information here.

Learn to surf (or to surf better)

With it's multitude of beaches, Oahu has all types of surf from Waikiki Beach's gentle, rolling waves to the monstrous pipe on the North Shore. There are loads of surf schools which offer both group and private classes that can last for an hour to several days. They cater for all levels from absolute beginners to the more experienced. Try some of these:
Waikiki Beach Boys
Waikiki Surf Lessons
Hans Hedemann Surf School
Or use Google to find an alternative.

Hit the gorgeous beaches

Here is Frommer's list of the best beaches in Oahu (see map below for locations and pics):

Sunset Beach - Surfers around the world know this site, famous for its spectacular winter surf - the waves can be huge, thundering peaks reaching 15-20 feet. In the summer months, Sunset calms down and becomes a safe swimming beach (as seen in picture taken by Charms). It's a great place to people-watch year-round, as you'll spot everybody from wannabe Baywatch babes to King Kong surfers.

Waikiki Beach - This famous stretch of sand is the spot that originally put Hawaii on the tourist map. Waikiki attracts nearly five million visitors a year from every corner of the planet. In high season, it's packed towel-to-towel, but there's no denying the beauty of Waikiki.

Lanikai Beach - Hidden, off the beaten tourist path, this beach on the windward side has a mile of powder-soft sand and water that's safe for swimming. It's the perfect isolated spot for a morning of swimming and relaxation. With the prevailing trade winds, it's also excellent for sailing and windsurfing. Sun-worshipers should arrive in the morning, as the shadow of the Koolau Mountains blocks the sun's rays in the afternoon.

Kailua Beach - Imagine a 30-acre public park with a broad, grassy area with picnic tables, a public boat ramp, restrooms, a pavilion, a volleyball court, and food stands. Add a wide, sandy beach, great for diving, swimming, sailing, snorkeling, and board- and windsurfing, and you've got Kailua Beach, which is tops on the windward side of the island. On weekends, local families consider it the place to go. Weekdays, you practically have it all to yourself.

Kahana Bay Beach Park - With salt-and-pepper sand, a crescent-shaped beach protected by ironwoods and kamani trees and, as a backdrop, a lush junglelike valley interrupted only by jagged cliffs, you'd swear this beach was in Tahiti or Bora Bora. Kahana offers great swimming (even safe for children), good fishing, and perfect conditions for kayaking. Combine that with picnic areas, camping, and hiking trails, and you have one of the best beaches on the island.

Malaekahana Beach - If you'd like to venture back to Hawaii before jet planes brought millions of people to Oahu, back to the days when there were few footprints on the sand, then go north to the romantic wooded beach park at Malaekahana. This is a place to sit in quiet solitude or to beachcomb along the shore. There's good swimming most of the time, and good snorkeling when it's calm, but no lifeguard. Surprisingly, very few visitors come to Malaekahana -- one of the best beaches on Oahu, it's a true find.

Waimea Bay - During much of the winter -- October to April -- huge waves come pounding in, creating strong rip currents. Even expert surfers think twice when confronted with 30-foot waves that crash on the shore with the force of a runaway locomotive. It's hard to believe that during the summer this same bay is glassy and calm -- a great place for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Oh, and by the way, despite what the Beach Boys croon in "Surfin' USA" (Why-a-mee-ah), it's pronounced Why-may-ah.

Pokai Bay - If you dream of a powdered-sugar sand beach, a place you can swim, snorkel, and probably be the only one on the beach (on weekdays), try this off-the-beaten-path shoreline. Surrounded by a reef, the waters inside are calm enough for children and offer excellent snorkeling. Come with aloha spirit and a respect for local customs -- the residents here don't see too many visitors.


View Best Beaches in Hawaii in a larger map

Take a catamaran sailing trip

Catamaran sailing trips are a great way to see Oahu, leaving from several locations including right off Waikiki Beach. On these trips you will see some beautiful views as well as fish, sea turtles, and dolphins.
For the more active, why not take a snorkelling catamaran trip. You will be taken to some of Oahu's best snorkelling spots, far from the crowds, where you can swim with colourful fish and friendly sea turtles, then lie back on the deck and enjoy the sun. Don't worry if you aren't a confident swimmer, the crew can provide you with a flotation device, or you can sit out the snorkelling and work on your tan on the deck.
If you're looking for a little bit of romance, how about a romantic sunset sail instead? You can watch the sun set over the ocean while sipping champagne aboard the catamaran.
Two good companies to try that leave from Waikiki Beach are:
Outrigger Catamaran
Maita'i Catamaran
We are planning on going on a snorkelling catamaran sail in the week before the wedding, if you're interested in joining us, let us know!

Go Shopping!!!

There are many places to shop in Oahu, with numerous shopping malls that provide one stop shopping. The best include:
Ala Moana - Hawaii's world famous mall with over 200 shops and restaurants. There is a free shuttle bus leaving from several central locations in Waikiki every 10 minutes, 7 days a week.
Royal Hawaiian Center - One of Hawaii's largest shopping malls located in the heart of rejuvenated Waikiki. Over 100 stores and restaurants on Waikiki Beach.
DFS Galleria - An international mall that provides duty-free savings on the worlds leading luxury brands. The center consists of exclusive brand boutiques including Prada, Dior, Coach, Burberry, Fendi, Ralph Lauren and more. Worldwide guarantee, trolley express and currency exchange services are also provided.
Note: designer bags and shoes are cheaper in Hawaii than in the UK and Australia :)

Eat till you're not fit to be seen on the beach

There is a lot of good eating to be had on Oahu. Fine dining, fun dining, and uniquely Hawaiian experiences await!

If you like prawns, don't miss the shrimp trucks dotted along Kamehameha Highway on Oahu's North Shore. Shrimp trucks are like mini restaurants on wheels. The one we always go to is Giovanni's Original White Shrimp Truck (pictured), the original and best shrimp truck serving paper plates of prawns with rice in various sauces. This unassuming little truck serves some of the tastiest shrimp we've ever had and is a must visit whenever we're in Oahu. They also have a hot dog for those who aren't into shrimp. The shells are left on the prawns so it is a very hands on and potentially messy but oh so delicious experience. WARNING: the hot & spicy shrimp is very hot!

Some great restaurants to try in the Waikiki area include Alan Wong's (Asian & Hawaiian fusion), Roy's (Hawaiian fusion), BLT Steak (Steak and seafood), Ruth's Chris Steak House (juicy steaks), Chow Mein (Italian and Chinese fusion), and La Mer (French/seafood).

A fun and inexpensive option is Teddy's Bigger Burgers, voted best burgers in Hawaii. A 50s style diner with 3 different sizes of HUGE burgers, they have 3 locations across Oahu including Waikiki.

Pay your respects at Pearl Harbor

A personal favourite of Charmayne, the Pearl Harbor memorial and museum is well worth a visit, and entry is free! It is an incredible monument to one of the saddest incidents in American history. The memorial marks the place where the United States battleship the USS Arizona was attacked and sunk by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. On your visit you will be taken to the memorial by boat, where you can see the remains of the battleship beneath. The bodies of those that died on board still remain, and the sunken battleship serves as their tomb. Click here for more information.

Whilst at Pearl Harbor you can also board the battleship USS Missouri (aka Mighty Mo) and explore her vast interior (the photo shown here was taken by Charmayne on board Mighty Mo, you can see the USS Arizona Memorial just beyond the bow). Click here for more info and to make a tour reservation.

Several companies such as Pearl Harbor Oahu also offer specialised WWII tours which can include things like a plane ride that follows the route Japanese aircraft took to bomb Pearl Harbor.

Visit the Polynesian Cultural Centre

About an hours drive from Waikiki, the Polynesian Cultural Center celebrates traditional Polynesian culture, and gives you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the lifestyles, habitats, entertainment and hospitality of seven Polynesian villages - Tonga, Tahiti, the Marquesas, Fiji, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Samoa and Hawaii!
Enjoy various Polynesian activities, an authentic Hawaiian Luau (Alii Luau), and the famous "Horizons" night show. Watch natives in each village demonstrate crafts and skills such as creating clothing from bark, stories through dance, baskets with leaves, and fire by rubbing sticks.
During feature presentations you'll hear intriguing descriptions of cooking methods, transoceanic travel, and the preservation of traditions and history without a written language.
Visit the official website here.

Learn to make a lei, play the ukelele, or hula dance

The Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki offers free cultural enrichment classes in lei making, ukelele playing, hula dancing, traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi massage and healing, Hawaiian quilting, and kapa cloth making.
They also put on regular demonstrations of coconut leaf weaving and Hawaiian music.
Click here for more info and class schedules.

Nightlife

Honolulu has LOADS of bars and clubs clamouring for your attention so you won't be starved for choice. There is a wide range of nightlife available, and even the hotel bars are usually pretty good.

For a gorgeous Mai Tai while watching the sunset and listening to live Hawaiian music, House Without a Key in the Halekulani hotel has been highly recommended.

For those that want something a little more action packed, there is a Waikiki pub crawl that will take you to 5 bars/clubs for a fixed price. Included in the cost is coach transport to each venue, entry fees, a drink or two at each bar and several drinking games with your fellow crawlers. Charmayne went on this several years ago (in her youth) and it is CARNAGE. She couldn't find a website for it, but there are usually touts on the main strip in Waikiki that sell tickets.