Water Sports

The best place to rent beach toys (snorkels, boogie boards, beach chairs, fishing poles, and more) is Molokai Outdoors Activities, in the lobby of Hotel Molokai, just outside Kaunakakai (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com). They have everything you'll need for a day at the beach and can also give you advice on where to find a great swimming beach or where the waves are breaking. Another good place to check out is Molokai Fish & Dive, Kaunakakai (tel. 808/553-5926; www.molokaifishanddive.com). You can rent snorkeling gear, fishing gear, even ice chests here. This is also a hot spot for fishing news and tips on what's running where.

Body Boarding (Boogie Boarding) & Bodysurfing

Molokai has only three beaches that offer ridable waves for body boarding and bodysurfing: Papohaku, Kepuhi, and Halawa. Even these beaches are only for experienced bodysurfers, due to the strength of the rip currents and undertows. You can rent boogie boards with fins for just $5 a day or $20 a week at Molokai Outdoors Activities (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com).

Ocean Kayaking

During the summer months, when the waters on the north shore are calm, Molokai offers some of the most spectacular kayaking in Hawaii. However, most of Molokai is for the experienced kayaker only. You must be adept in paddling through open ocean swells and rough waves.

Molokai Outdoors Activities (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com), has sunset tours ($48 per person) of the ancient Hawaii fishponds and a coastline tour ($63 per person). They also rent kayaks; rates start at $12 an hour and $26 a day.

Scuba Diving

Want to see turtles or manta rays up close? How about sharks? Molokai resident Bill Kapuni has been diving the waters around the island his entire life; he'll be happy to show you whatever you're brave enough to encounter. You can book him through Molokai Fish & Dive (tel. 808/553-5926; www.molokaifishanddive.com), which offers scuba-diving trips from $135 to $275.

Snorkeling

When the waters are calm, Molokai offers excellent snorkeling; you'll see a wide range of butterfly fish, tangs, and angelfish. Good snorkeling can be found -- when conditions are right -- at many of Molokai's beaches. Molokai Outdoors Activities (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com) has the best prices on snorkeling rentals ($6 a day, or $24 a week, for fins, mask, and snorkel). Molokai Outdoors also offers snorkel/kayak tours for $63 per person.

For snorkeling tours on a boat, Walter Naki of Molokai Action Adventures (tel. 808/558-8184) offers leisurely snorkeling, diving, and swimming trips in his 21-foot Boston whaler for $125 per person for a 4- to 6-hour custom tour.

Molokai's Best Snorkel Spots -- Most Molokai beaches are too dangerous for snorkeling in winter, when big waves and strong currents are generated by storms that sweep down from Alaska. From mid-September to April, stick to Murphy Beach Park (also known as Kumimi Beach Park) on the East End. In summer, roughly May to mid-September, the Pacific Ocean turns into a flat lake, and the whole west coast of Molokai opens up for snorkeling. Mike Holmes, of Molokai Ranch & Fun Hogs Hawaii, says the best spots are as follows:

Kawaikiunui, Ilio Point, and Pohaku Moiliili (West End) -- These are all special places seldom seen by even those who live on Molokai. You can reach Kawaikiunui and Pohaku Moiliili on foot after a long, hot, dusty ride in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, but it's much easier and quicker to go by sea. See above for places to rent a kayak and get advice. It's about 2 miles as the crow flies from Pohaku Moiliili to Ilio Point.

Kapukahehu (Dixie Maru) Beach (West End) -- This gold-sand family beach is well protected, and the reef is close and shallow. The name Dixie Maru comes from a 1920s Japanese fishing boat stranded off the rocky shore. One of the Molokai Ranch cowboys hung the wrecked boat's nameplate on a gate by Kapukahehu Beach, and the name stuck. To get here, take Kaluakoi Road to the end of the pavement, and then take the footpath 300 feet to the beach.

Murphy (Kumimi) Beach Park (East End) -- This beach is located between mile markers 20 and 21, off Kamehameha V Highway. The reef here is easily reachable, and the waters are calm year-round.

Sportfishing

Molokai's waters can provide prime sporting opportunities, whether you're looking for big-game sportfishing or bottom fishing. The number-one person we recommend is Capt. Clay, of Hallelujah Hou Fishing (tel. 808/336-1870; www.hallelujahhoufishing.com). Capt. Clay, who also is a minister and the nicest guy you may ever meet, leads light-tackle guided fishing trips on his 24-foot power catamaran. The price is $295 to $395 for up to four adults for a half day. He provides all tackle and bottled water; you bring the sunscreen. If you catch something, he'll even filet your fish for dinner. Note: There's no "head" (toilet) on the boat.

When customers are scarce, Capt. Joe Reich goes commercial fishing, so he always knows where the fish are biting. He runs Alyce C Sportfishing out of Kaunakakai Harbor (tel. 808/558-8377; www.alycecfishing.com). A full day of fishing for up to six people is $450, three-quarters of a day is $400, and half a day is $350. You can usually persuade him to do a whale-watching cruise during the winter months.

For fly-fishing or light-tackle reef-fish trolling, contact Walter Naki at Molokai Action Adventures (tel. 808/558-8184). A full-day trip in his 21-foot Boston whaler, for up to four people, is $125 per person.

For deep-sea fishing, contact Fun Hogs Hawaii. They book through Molokai Outdoors Activities for fishing excursions on a 27-foot, fully equipped sportfishing vessel. Prices are $365 for six passengers for 4 hours, $417 for 6 hours, and $521 for 8 hours.

If you just want to try your luck casting along the shoreline, Molokai Outdoors Activities (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com) offers the least expensive fishing poles for rent ($5 a day or $24 for the week), and can tell you where they're biting.

Surfing

Depending on the time of year and the wave conditions, Molokai can offer some great surfing for the beginner, as well as the expert. Molokai Outdoors Activities (tel. 877/553-4477 or 808/553-4477; www.molokai-outdoors.com) not only will know where the waves are, but they also rent gear: soft surfboards for $13 a day. Good surfing spots include Kaunakakai Wharf in town, Hale O Lono Beach and Papohaku Beach on the West End, and Halawa Beach on the East End.