DH, teen daughter and I are leaving in 3 weeks for a much-anticipated trip to Hawaii. Based upon the excellent advice here, we plan on 5 nights on Big Island and 7 on Maui. What I could really use help on is planning the hotels for Oahu:
Arrival: Honolulu 8pm Thursday - leave for Kona Saturday at 4pm.
Departure: Wednesday, Honolulu arrival 12:20 pm, head home Thursday 4:30pm.

Obviously, we won't see much on Oahu, but should be able to squeeze in Arizona, etc and snap a photo on Waikiki Beach.

Where would you stay for transportation ease balanced with atmosphere? I have used the fabulous link to the aerial photos and am considering the Sheraton Waikiki - any thoughts/other suggestions - hate to spend as much as the RH, as we will be out and about in our limited time.

Got back two weeks ago and stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. A bit pricy but on the nicest section of the beach, in my opinion and plenty of transportation right at the street. Public transport is fast and efficient on Oahu and of course there are taxis at all the tourist spots.
If you want to go to Pearl Harbor go very early in the morning. They give out free tickets for the shuttles that take you out to the Memorial. You are only on the memorial for about 13 minutes and then you go back. We got there at about 7:50am and were on shuttle #4, but it goes quickly. If you want to do the whole experience it can take all day, but we limited our trip to a couple of hours.

Do you want a beachfront hotel for Waikiki? Maybe one of the Outriggers?

Or there's a brand new Embassy Suites on BeachWalk (a couple blocks from the beach).

Don't stay in Waikiki. I promise you that you will get over it in about 5 minutes. It's nothing but a tourist trap. If you have the money I would stay at Turtle Bay on the North Shore. It's a 50 minute drive from Honolulu but a beautiful one and the views from your room will blow Maui away. You do have to go to Pearl Harbor though, that will atleast take up 6 hours of your day.

I just got back from a week at the Sheraton Waikiki and recommend it. It's in the middle of Waikiki--you can easily walk to Kapiolani Park if you like to walk and/or run, which I did every morning. The hotel was nice, convenient, very recently redecorated, and has zillions of elevators so you never have to wait. If you stay in Waikiki, and have time, you might go on the tour of the Moana Surfrider (right up the street from the Sheraton Waikiki). The tour is at 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays--or at least that was the schedule in May. It's free, lasts about an hour, and you learn all about the history of Wakiki and the Moana, which is the oldest hotel in Waikiki. The Moana terrace is a great place to get a drink at sunset, as is the Halekulani, which is close by as well. The Royal Hawaiian is closed for the next 9 months or so.

It depends what you want... But obviously many many people (myself included) love staying in Waikiki (contrary to one comment above). If they didn't it wouldn't be such a popular destination with the majority of hotel choices on Oahu.