For many visitors to Hawaii a trip to the neighbor islands is often their second time to visit Hawaii. For good or bad, many people first visit the Waikiki area of Oahu island for their first vacation, and then and subsequent vacations, visit the main neighbor islands: Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island (the Big Island). Each island has its own flavor and range of activities. This article focuses on the things to on or in the water in the Kona region of Hawaii Island.

The Kona area of the Hawaii Island is the area on the leeward (western) part of Hawaii Island that stretches from the southern end of the island to about three-quarters the western coastline to the north. Almost all of the people in the Kona area live within a handful of miles from the ocean, as the inland area is dominated by the Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes.

The best place to start for travel ideas for Kona, Hawaii is the ocean. With a fifty or so mile coastline and nearly all the visitors to the island staying within a few miles of the ocean, Kona, Hawaii is an ocean-lovers paradise.

For those who prefer to stay on the water (as opposed to in), Kona is know worldwide for some of the world's best bill fishing. These include the many species of marlin and what are commonly known as sailfish. The largest catches are often in the thousand pound range. Other smaller fish commonly caught in the Kona waters include tunas, mahi mahi and ono. The only way to fish the Kona waters is to go on a fishing charter. Shared charters, most of which leave out of Honokohau Harbor (between the airtport and Kailua-Kona), are the most affordable way to spend a half or full day on the water.

Kailua-Kona, which is where most people end up staying, is also home to several snorkeling and sunset cruise operations. The snorkeling boats will typically go to Pawaii Bay, about a mile north of the harbor, or to Kealakekua Bay, which is a few miles down the coast from Keauhou Bay. Most of these boats are all-inclusive, which means you just need to bring your sunscreen, towel and swimsuit. Masks, fins, snacks and drinks are provided. For those who don't need shade and are OK with a bumpy ride, there are zodiacs that go up and down the coast on snorkeling tours, as well.

Kona is a scuba diving paradise. With over 400 endemic fish and visibility often up to 100 feet, the waters are Kona are some of world's best for diving. Unlike the newer islands in Hawaii, the coast of the Big Island is mostly lava, which means there is not a lot of sand or sediment to cloud the water. Most of the scuba charters do offer introductory dives for non-certified guests, which will is a great way to experience scuba diving in Hawaii without the obtaining a license. These are very controlled dives and you will never find yourself very far from the divemaster.