Active Pursuits

If you want to rent beach toys, like snorkel gear or boogie boards, the beach concessions at all the big resorts, as well as tour desks and dive shops, offer equipment rentals and sometimes lessons for beginners. The cheapest place to get great rental equipment is Snorkel Bob's, in the parking lot of Huggo's restaurant at 75-5831 Kahakai Rd., at Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona (tel. 808/329-0770; www.snorkelbob.com).

The not-for-profit group Friends for Fitness, P.O. Box 1671, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745 (tel. 808/322-0033), offers a free brochure on physical activities (from aerobics to yoga) in West Hawaii; they will gladly mail it to you upon request.

Body Boarding (Boogie Boarding) & Bodysurfing

On the Kona side of the island, the best beaches for body boarding and bodysurfing are Hapuna Beach, White Sands Beach, and Kekaha Kai State Park (Kona Coast State Park). On the east side, try Leleiwi Beach.

Ocean Kayaking

Imagine sitting at sea level, eye to eye with a turtle, a dolphin, even a whale -- it's possible in an oceangoing kayak. Anyone can kayak in calm waters: Just get in, find your balance, and paddle. After a few minutes of instruction and a little practice in a calm area (like the lagoon in front of King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel), you'll be ready to explore. Beginners can practice their skills in Kailua Bay and Kealakekua Bay; intermediates might try paddling from Honokohau Harbor to Kekaha Kai State Park; the Hamakua Coast is a challenge for experienced kayakers.

You can rent one- and two-person kayaks (and other ocean toys) from Aloha Kayak (tel. 877/322-1441 or 808/322-2868; www.alohakayak.com). Half-day rates are $25 for a single and $35 for a double; full-day rates are $45 for a single and $60 for a double. Aloha Kayak also has a unique tour from Keauhou Bay and the Captain Cook Monument, with Hawaiian guides showing you sea caves and snorkeling areas full of fish and turtles. The tours last either 4 hours ($79 adults, $59 children 11 and under) or 2 1/2 hours ($59 adults, $30 children 11 and under) and include all equipment, beverages, snorkeling gear, and snacks.

Parasailing

Get a bird's-eye view of Hawaii's pristine waters with UFO Parasail (tel. 800/FLY-4-UFO or 808/325-5836; www.ufoparasail.net), which offers parasail rides daily from 8am to 2pm from Kailua Pier. The cost is $61 for the standard flight of 7 minutes of air time at 400 feet, and $70 for a deluxe 10-minute ride at 800 feet. You can go up alone or with a friend; no experience is necessary. Tip: Take the early-bird special at 8am (when the light is fantastic and the price is right) for just $56 for 400 feet, or $66 for 800 feet.

Sportfishing

If you want to catch fish, it doesn't get any better than the Kona Coast, known internationally as the marlin capital of the world. Big-game fish, including gigantic blue marlin and other Pacific billfish, tuna, mahimahi, sailfish, swordfish, ono (also known as wahoo), and giant trevallies (ulua), roam the waters here. When anglers here catch marlin that weigh 1,000 pounds or more, they call them granders; there's even a "wall of fame" on Kailua-Kona's Waterfront Row, honoring 40 anglers who've nailed more than 20 tons of fighting fish.

Nearly 100 charter boats with professional captains and crew offer fishing charters out of Keauhou, Kawaihae, Honokohau, and Kailua Bay harbors. If you're not an expert angler, the best way to arrange a charter is through a booking agency like the Charter Desk at Honokohau Marina (tel. 888/KONA-4-US or 808/329-5735; www.charterdesk.com) or Charter Services Hawaii (tel. 800/567-2650 or 808/334-1881; www.konazone.com). Either one will sort through the more than 40 different types of vessels, fishing specialties, and personalities to match you with the right boat. Prices range from $625 to $1,300 or so for a full-day exclusive charter (you and up to five of your friends have the entire boat to yourselves), or for $95 you can share a boat with others and rotate your turn at pulling in the big one.

Serious sportfishers should call the boats directly. They include Anxious (tel. 808/326-1229; www.alohazone.com), Marlin Magic (tel. 808/325-7138; www.marlinmagic.com), and Ihu Nui (tel. 808/325-1513; www.charterdesk.com/ihunui.html). If you aren't into hooking a 1,000-pound marlin or 200-pound tuna and just want to go out to catch some smaller fish and have fun, I recommend Reel Action Light Tackle Sportfishing (tel. 808/325-6811; www.charternet.com/flyfish/hawaii.html). Light-tackle anglers and saltwater fly-fishermen should contact Sea Genie II (tel. 808/325-5355; www.seageniesportfishing.com), which has helped several anglers set world records. All of the above outfitters operate out of Honokohau Harbor.

Most big-game charter boats carry six passengers max, and the boats supply all equipment, bait, tackle, and lures. No license is required. Many captains now tag and release marlins; other fish caught belong to the boat (not to you, the charter) -- that's Island style. If you want to eat your catch or have your trophy marlin mounted, arrange it with the captain before you go.

Submarine Dives

This is the stuff movies are made of: venturing 100 feet below the sea in a high-tech 65-foot submarine. On a 1-hour trip, you'll be able to explore a 25-acre coral reef that's teeming with schools of colorful tropical fish. Look closely and you might catch glimpses of moray eels -- or even a shark -- in and around the reef. On selected trips, you'll watch as divers swim among these aquatic creatures, luring them to the view ports for face-to-face observation. Call Atlantis Submarines, 75-5669 Alii Dr. (across the street from Kailua Pier), Kailua-Kona (tel. 800/548-6262; www.atlantisadventures.com). Trips leave daily between 10am and 3pm. The cost is $80 for adults and $41 for children under 12. Note: The ride is safe for everyone, but skip it if you suffer from claustrophobia.

Surfing

Most surfing off the Big Island is for the experienced only. As a general rule, the beaches on the north and west shores of the island get northern swells in winter, while those on the south and east shores get southern swells in summer. Experienced surfers should check out the waves at Pine Trees (north of Kailua-Kona), Lyman's (off Alii Dr. in Kailua-Kona), and Banyan's (also off Alii Dr.); reliable spots on the east side of the island include Honolii Point (outside Hilo), Hilo Bay Front Park, and Keaukaha Beach Park. But there are a few sites where beginners can catch a wave, too: You might want to try Kahaluu Beach Park, where the waves are manageable most of the year, other surfers are around to give you pointers, and there's a lifeguard on shore.

Ocean Eco Tours (tel. 808/324-SURF; www.oceanecotours.com), owned and operated by veteran surfers, is one of the few companies on the Big Island that teaches surfing. Private lessons cost $150 per person (including all equipment) and usually last a minimum of 2 hours; 2- to 3-hour group lessons go for $95 (also including all equipment), with a maximum of four students. Both teachers love this ancient Hawaiian sport, and their enthusiasm is contagious. The minimum age is 8, and you must be a fairly good swimmer.

Your only Big Island choice for surfboard rentals is Pacific Vibrations, 75-5702 Likana Lane (just off Alii Dr., across from the pier), Kailua-Kona (tel. 808/329-4140; www.laguerdobros.com/pacvib/pacificv.html), where short boards go for $15 and long boards for $20 per day.

Windsurfing

The constant 5- to 25-knot winds blowing toward the beach make Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay), on the Kohala Coast, one of the best beaches for windsurfing. If you get into trouble, the wind brings you back to shore instead of taking you out to sea. Ocean Sports, at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort (tel. 808/885-5555; www.hawaiioceansports.com), starts beginners on a land simulator to teach them how to handle the sail and "come about" (turn around and come back). Instruction is $60 an hour; after a half-hour or so of instruction on land, you're ready to hit the water. If you already know how to windsurf, equipment rental is $30 an hour. Advanced windsurfers should head to Puako and Hilo Bay.

Biking

For mountain-bike and cross-training bike rentals in Kona, go to Dave's Bike & Triathlon Shop, 75-5669 Alii Dr., across from the Kailua Pier, behind Atlantis Submarine (tel. 808/329-4522). Dave rents brand-name mountain bikes (with full suspension) for $15 a day or $60 a week, including helmet and water bottle. Feel free to ask him for route advice and local weather reports. You can also rent a bike rack for your car ($10 a week).

Hawaiian Pedals, Kona Inn Shopping Village, Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona (tel. 808/329-2294), and Hawaiian Pedals Bike Works, Hale Hana Centre, 74-5583 Luhia St., Kailua-Kona (tel. 808/326-2453; www.hawaiianpedals.com), have a huge selection of bikes: cruisers ($20 a day), mountain bikes and hybrids ($35 a day), and racing bikes and front-suspension mountain bikes ($45 a day). Bike racks go for $5 a day, and you pay only for the days you actually use it (the honor system): If you have the rack for a week but use it for only 2 days, you'll be charged just $10. The folks at the shops are friendly and knowledgeable about cycling routes all over the Big Island.

Guided Bike Tours -- Check out Kona Coast Cycling (tel. 877/592-BIKE or 808/327-1133; www.cyclekona.com), which offers half-day (3-4 hr.) and full-day (4-6 hr.) bicycling tours, ranging from a casual ride to intense mountain biking at its best. The locations are diverse, from the rolling hills of a Kona coffee farm to awesome views of the Waipio Valley Lookout. Most tours include round-trip transportation from hotels, van support, tour guide, helmet, gloves, water, snacks, and lunch on the full-day trips. Prices range from $70 to $230 for adults, $60 to $100 for children 6 to 15.

Contact the Big Island Mountain Bike Association, P.O. Box 6819, Hilo, HI 96720 (tel. 808/961-4452; www.interpac.net/~mtbike), for its free brochure, Big Island Mountain Biking, which has useful safety tips on biking as well as great off-road trails for both beginner and advanced riders.

Birding

Native Hawaiian birds are few -- and dwindling. But Hawaii still offers extraordinary birding for anyone nimble enough to traverse tough, mucky landscape. And the best birding is on the Big Island; birders the world over come here hoping to see three Hawaiian birds, in particular: the akiapolaau, a woodpecker wannabe with a war club-like head; the nukupuu, an elusive little yellow bird with a curved beak, one of the crown jewels of Hawaiian birding; and the alala, a critically endangered Hawaiian crow that's now almost impossible to see in the wild.

If you don't know an apapane from a nukupuu, go with someone who does. Contact Hawaii Forest & Trail, 74-5035-B Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. (behind the Chevron station), Kailua-Kona (tel. 800/464-1993 or 808/331-8505; www.hawaii-forest.com), to sign up for the Rainforest & Dryforest Adventure, led by naturalist Rob Pacheco. On this tour, you'll venture into pristine rainforest to see rare and endangered Hawaiian birds. The guide will also point out Hawaii's unique botany and evolution. The full-day tour costs $155 and includes pickup, midmorning snack with coffee, lunch, beverages, daypack, binoculars, walking stick, and rain gear.

If you want to head out on your own, good spots to see native Hawaiian and other birds include the following:

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park -- The best places for accomplished birders to go on their own are the ohia forests of this national park, usually at sunrise or sunset, when the little forest birds seem to be most active. The Hawaiian nene goose can be spotted at the park's Kipuka Nene Campground, a favorite nesting habitat. Geese and pheasants sometimes appear on the Volcano Golf Course in the afternoon.

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge -- The first national wildlife refuge established solely for forest bird management is on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea above the Hamakua Coast. It's open for birding on Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays, using the public access road only. You must call ahead of time to get the gate combinations of the locked gates and to register. Contact Refuge Manager Richard Wass, Hakalau Forest, 154 Waianuenue Ave., Room 219, Hilo, HI 96720 (tel. 808/933-6915; Richard_Wass@mail.fws.gov).

Hilo Ponds -- Ducks, coots, herons (night and great blue), cattle egrets, and even Canada and snow geese fly into these popular coastal wetlands in Hilo, near the airport. Take Kalanianaole Highway about 3 miles east, past the industrial port facilities to Loko Waka Pond and Waiakea Pond.

Horseback Riding

Kohala Naalapa, on Kohala Mountain Road (Hwy. 250), mile marker 11 (ask for directions to the stables at the security-guard station; tel. 808/889-0022; www.naalapastables.com), offers unforgettable journeys into the rolling hills of Kahua and Kohala ranches, past ancient Hawaiian ruins, through lush pastures with grazing sheep and cows, and along mountaintops with panoramic coastal views. The horses and various riding areas are suited to everyone from first-timers to experienced equestrians. There are two trips a day: a 2 1/2-hour tour at 9am for $89 and a 1 1/2-hour tour at 1:30pm for $68. No kids under 8, pregnant riders, or riders over 230 pounds permitted.

Experienced riders should sign up for a trip with Kings' Trail Rides, Tack, and Gift Shop, Hwy. 11 at mile marker 111, Kealakekua (tel. 808/323-2388; www.konacowboy.com). These 4-hour trips, with 2 hours of riding, are limited to four people. You'll head down the mountain along Monument Trail to the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay, where you'll stop for lunch and an hour of snorkeling. The price ($135 weekdays, $150 weekends) includes lunch and gear.

To see Waipio Valley on horseback, call Waipio Naalapa Trail Rides (tel. 808/775-0419; www.naalapastables.com). The 2 1/2-hour tours of this gorgeous tropical valley depart Monday through Saturday at 9:30am and 1pm (don't forget your camera). The guides are well versed in Hawaiian history and provide running commentary as you move through this historic place. The cost is $89 for adults. No kids under 8, pregnant riders, or riders over 230 pounds permitted.

Visitors can explore Parker Ranch (tel. 808/885-7655; www.parkerranch.com) and its vast 175,000-acre working cattle ranch. You'll learn firsthand about the ranch, its history, and its variety of plant life, and you may even catch glimpses of pheasant, francolins, or wild pigs. Rides (suitable for beginners) are available three times daily at 8:15am, 12:15pm, and a sunset ride at 4pm for $79 per person. Morning and noon rides are 2 hours; the sunset ride is 1 1/2 hours. Kids must be at least 7 years old. Riders will feel like Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys) as they ride through stone corrals where up to 5,000 Hereford cattle were rounded up after being brought down from the slopes of Mauna Kea. A visit to the racetrack where Parker Ranch thoroughbreds were trained and still hold the record for speed is included in the excursion. The rides all begin at the Blacksmith Shop on Pukalani Road.

Tennis

You can play for free at any Hawaii County tennis court; for a detailed list of all courts on the island, contact Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, HI 96720 (tel. 808/961-8720; www.hawaii-county.com/parks/parks.htm). The best courts in Hilo are at the Hoolulu Tennis Stadium, located next to the Civic Auditorium on Manono Street. Most resorts in the Kona and Kohala areas do not allow nonguests to use their tennis facilities.