We are planned to stay in Oahu for 7 days after a two nights in Honolulu. can anybody recommend a condo on along the coast preference with a ocean front. Will be hiring a car so hoping to use condo as a base after travelling to attractions during the day.
North side has been recommended by friends but open to other suggestions.

are you interested in condo in Waikiki or North Shore?

Waikiki. As we have now decided to stay all the 7 days in Waikiki
Thanks

When we were on Oahu in 2012) we rented this condo in the Ilikai Marina. http://www.vrbo.com/148073 The condo was very nice--the pictures are accurate.

The Ilikai Marina is located just to the west of Waikiki. From our little balcony, we could see Duke's Lagoon, which is in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village and which was less than a 10 minute walk from the condo. The Ilikai Marina overlooks (surprise) the marina and we enjoyed sitting on the balcony having coffee in the morning and watching the marina wake up. There are many other condos for rent in the Ilikai Marina and if you want to go condo--you might check them out.
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals.../ilikai-marina
If you need two bedrooms, the Ilikai Hotel Condos has two bedroom units also. The building is next to the Ilikai Marina building – so a little closer to Waikiki. A co-worker stayed there with his family a few years ago and loved it.
http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals...i-hotel-condos

Thank you Martym, I have just booked 7 nights in the Illikai as you suggested. Looks like a very good selection considering price,location and views. Can you also maybe advise day tours things to do etc. we were hoping to go to the big island to visit the volcano. Can you do this in one day?

BUDGET???? Waikiki Shore is awesome as it is the only condo right on the beach but it can run $300 and up but no pool.... Waikiki Sunset and Waikiki Banyan are more reasonable but about 2 blocks to beach - both have ocean views and nice lanais and both have pools if that is important...YOu can get some pretty expensive and large condos. try VRBO for good prices....Give us a budget for more help....

As I said in my original post--DH and I have only been to Oahu one time (in 2012--we usually go to the Big Island--22nd trip coming up in November). So I will tell you what we did on Oahu on our trip there. I'm sure other Fodorits will have other suggestions.

Pearl Harbor—buy tickets ahead of time http://www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm

Bishop Museum—great overview of Hawaii history and culture--the main building is a great looking Victorian 'castle' with koa wood paneling--they have a restaurant also http://www.bishopmuseum.org/

Shangrila—heiress Doris Duke’s house on the beach behind Diamond Head—get the first tour reservation in the morning--it's cooler then http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/Programs/Tours/

Honolulu Museum of Art—the tours to Shangrila leave from here—they have a nice collection also and a nice restaurant http://honolulumuseum.org/

We mostly ate in the condo (Ala Moana Center-which is close to the condo-has a Foodland) http://www.alamoanacenter.com/Dining...nd-Supermarket

one evening we walked over to Tropics at Hilton Hawaiian Village—for dinner http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com...bar-and-grill/

Ou splurge was dinner at Alan Wong’s- he’s one of the founders of Hawaiian regional cuisine—fabulous food—relaxed atmosphere—get reservations two months ahead http://www.alanwongs.com/node/176

We did a drive to the north shore through the Koolau Mountains eastern Oahu
http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oah...-mountains.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ironrodart/5475884629/
Stop for lunch at a shrimp truck around Kahuku
http://www.yelp.com/list/oahu-shrimp-trucks-kahuku
Then on to the north shore Oahu--home of the Banzai pipeline
http://www.gonorthshore.org/attractions.htm
then return through the middle of the island back to Honolulu--I think we drove by the entrance to Dole Plantation - didn't stop http://www.dole-plantation.com/

It appears you can to a day trip to the Big Island to visit the volcano (plus other sights in the area) Here are three companies I found--we have not done this so can't offer any recommendation as to which to use.
http://www.discoverhawaiitours.com/t...otour_33w.html
http://www.viator.com/tours/Oahu/Big...f=02&aid=g5993
http://www.allhawaiitours.com/body.a...ge=TourDetails

<we were hoping to go to the big island to visit the volcano. Can you do this in one day?>

Yes, there are tour operators that offer this experience as a day trip. After you arrive pick up the tourist brochures called "101 Things To Do" & "Oahu Gold" that you'll see in stands along the sidewalks and hotel lobbies, and which have descriptions or lots of activities and places to see, advertisements, good maps, coupons, etc.

(Shar, Liberty must have posted his decision to stay at Illikai, right as you were making your suggestion for Waikiki Shores).

I agree with the good suggestions from martym, and will add: The Iolani Palace. I went for my first time my most recent trip and loved it.

Many thanks martym, have researched all your links.
Do you have a recommendation for a car hire company?

All the car rental companies are the same IMHO so I usually go by price. I've had good luck with this company. http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com

good suggestions on things to see and do on Oahu. Friday at noon they have a band concert and hawaiian music and dance at the Iolani palace. It is free and very enjoyable. Alan Wong's restaurant (not the one in the shopping center Pineapple Room) is a real treat. Make that your special dinner night reservations r a must. Shangri La also a great tour.....