Koko Head Shooting Range

My boyfriend and I have been coming here almost every weekend for months. It’s a beautiful outdoor range just along the beach. You can see the Koko head mountain while you shoot. They have all different areas for the different types of guns. It’s like an adult playground if you like shooting.

I honestly don’t know how this place has good reviews. I’m not an expert on gun ranges, but the people I was with are and at least I’m aware of safety rules and precautions
To the staff/​safety guys: DO NOT EVER pick up my gun while I have 3 guys down range putting up targets. Are you serious?! I should of flipped out on this guy for doing that. The young guy who did it yelled at a kid for picking up a shell from in front of the yellow line while targets were placed, but then feels that it is ok to grab my gun that is put away in it’s case (we were done shooting it) and pull it out to look at it. That was only one of the multiple reasons I will not be going back there. And then, what seemed to be a friend of his, shot after they hit the bell to stop all fire so targets can be fixed, he didn’t say one word to him. There is plenty more, but you get the idea. Maybe all the workers aren’t that stupid, but the ones that were at the pistol range that day were absolute morons and need to go back to a gun safety class.

I just moved back here in Hawaii from California (together w my guns) and it’s really nice to have a great place to unwind and friendly/​helpful braddahs to do my favorite sports, especially with my mentor, friend and old man DAD, who is just as enthusiastic as I am with this sports. Mahalo!

PEW PEW! BANG BANG!
Truthfully, I hate guns and don’t like to surround myself with one. But because I’m dating someone who owns a gun and have guy friends who have the same interests as him especially them being in the military, us girlfriends have to support their hobby one way or another. I actually did have that on my bucket list to shoot a gun one day and figured this would be the perfect time to do so as we heard about the chance to shoot a variety of guns at an event coming up.
Annually, The Hawaii Rifle Association holds a shooting sports fair at the Koko Head Shooting Range during Father’s Day weekend. So the girlfriends decided we should bring our boyfriends for an early Father’s Day treat for them to enjoy a day of shooting. Of course, they were pretty stocked. All of us girls were first timers as the guys already were familiar with the shooting range as they have previously gone to shooting ranges before. So we got to experience what this hobby of theirs that amuses them so much is all about.
The fair was on Saturday and Sunday from 10am — 4pm. We went on Saturday around 9am to get good parking. It was free to get in and the lines were already forming before the event started. We were asked to sign waivers and then we were required to listen to a short safety briefing before heading out to the range. It was like a carnival where you had to buy scrips at a $ 1 each to give to the attendants when you get to the shooting area.
**EYE WEAR AND EAR PROTECTION IS MANDATORY! it is required to have it on at all times while on the range for safety reasons. They earplugs for $ 1 to purchase. You may also use glasses or sunglasses as protection.
There were a lot of firearms available to try and the cost of the bullets depends on the type of weapon you have. So the bigger it got, the more costly it was per round. It was increments of 5 rounds per weapon. Some of the available firearms were air soft, action pistol, BB guns, Pellet guns, archery, shotguns, rifles, pistols, etc.
They had Certified Instructors who assisted everyone in proper handle of the fire weapons. The staff were so helpful and attentive to making my experience more comfortable for my first time handling a firearm. I first started off with the smallest gun that was $ 2 for 10 rounds of shots. I told the instructor it was my first time holding a gun and he guided me and helped me with my stance form of properly shooting the gun. That first shot took me back a bit trying to get in my comfort zone but there after it was breeze shooting the rest of the rounds. I then upgraded to the .22 rifles that was much bigger and more power than a regular shotgun. It was pretty cool though and I’m glad I was able to experience it.
Overall, it was fun and kind of like a stress reliever. The fair was a good way to break my comfort zone in trying out the shooting range since I was comfortable that I had experience instructors to teach me how to use guns properly. Its such a great stress reliever though to just shoot and let it all out. I wouldn’t mind coming back again to shoot. Probably wouldn’t make it a hobby but at least I know what it’s like for the guys to have that adrenaline kick out of it.

Pros: No range fees
Cons: Aggressive staff, limited distance options
Very rarely have I felt as unwelcome as I did when visiting this range. I read previous reviews from military detailing bad experiences. I visited this site with a open mind, however I experienced a similar unwelcoming atmosphere. The RSOs are demeaning and unnecessarily aggressive, distance options are severely limited, and there was a noticeable inequality in treatment of shooters. I would avoid this range if you have other options. However, if you can ignore the abrasiveness of the staff and don’t mind shooting pistol at 25 meters it a reasonable option.

Here in Hawaii it’s slim pickings as to where you can shoot. Because of this you’d think I’d be all-​in with 5 stars right? I must admit, my one gripe with this place is one that I can place myself in their shoes and understand. Still, despite the reasoning its still my pet-​peeve.
I shot at a place that had a rule that if you were a competition shooter, or displayed knowledge of proper gun safety and handling skills, and shot with accuracy, there was not a limitation as to how fast your rate of fire was, or your magazine capacity. Here at Koko Head, they are VERY restrictive in this respect. I do understand that because this is a public range, open to all, and of varying skill and experience, the rules must be standardized, black and white, and be a blanket policy for all participants. This must exist to be applied to all shooters, not left to interpretation by a few, as to who can shoot fast and who must shoot slow. Still, it would be nice to practice controlled pairs without being scolded like a child.
In closing, while I do not like the restrictions placed on us, I do appreciate why they exist, and that being SAFETY. Without the element of safety, we cannot allow this sport to grow, introduce the truth about firearms, an dispel all the negative fallacies the media chooses to perpetuate. And this is something I can never disagree with!

Free shooting! It was my first time & it was a great experience. The seat for shooting could be flipped so you could high or low. Provided sand bags & stand for gun. The people next to us were very friendly, the atmosphere was really nice as well. The best part of my experience was the range officer, he was really nice & funny his name was Flor Slick. Awesome experience will come again.

Such a cool place to shoot and its FREE!!! the workers there are extremely friendly and helpful. I will def go back!

I’ve frequented Kokohead shooting range for quite some time. So a review is long overdue!
This is the only place on Island where people can go, revel in their 2^nd Amendment rights and shred some paper targets with their firearm of choice. Kokohead has a number of different ranges which include Silhouette, Rifle, Pistol, Trap and Skeet… oh and almost forgot Archery.
Hours during the week are 1200 to 1600 (1600 is 4 O’Clock for those unfamiliar with the 24 hr clock) and they are closed Mon-​Tues In addition to limited hours during the week, accessibility is also limited to rifle and pistol. The other ranges are available on weekends. Weekend and Holiday hours are 0800 – 1600.
Now just to clarify for some people. The purpose of a Range Safety Officer (guys in the orange vests) is to ensure everyone complies with established rules. Their main goal is a SAFE environment, so all can enjoy their experience.
With that being said, If you have not been here before, I suggest GO EARLY (help open the place if you have to), but speak to the RSO, that way you have a clue as to whats going on. If you don’t and pull a boneheaded move, you will be addressed in an abrupt and loud manner! Now… don’t confuse this with any lack of manners, but when you are dealing with firearms you don’t have the luxury of walking 40 feet, tapping someone on the shoulder and stating «excuse me sir, would you be so kind as to not (insert boneheaded example)…it is a range violation» No… this is a place where someone can get seriously hurt if mistakes are made… and in real life you don’t get to «Re-​spawn» at your original starting point.
As for the facilities… well, I would say they require some refurbishment and soon. I fully understand this range is free and run by the City and County, but if I’m not mistaken our tax dollars help with that, so some maintenance is long overdue. As for the general upkeep… the lanes are good and serve their purpose. The restrooms are similar to those found at the beach parks. I don’t think the have any working water fountains near the ranges themselves, so would suggest bringing your own water.
All in all, it serves its purpose, but hoping the Mayor or City Council give this place some attention so we can can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
Oh.btw, Caveat Lector!!! You cannot shoot .50 BMG at this range (If you don’t know what a .50 BMG is don’t worry about it).

It’s a very spacious shooting complex. Granted I can’t compare since I have never been to other shooting ranges but this is a good location for Oahuans.
They offer trap, skeet, silhouette, rifle, and archery. My favorite is the silhouette aka «plinking» range. There are different sized metal targets to aim at. Some are animal shaped. They have several rows at different yardage to accommodate for levels of challenge you want. The rifle range requires you bring your own target frame and target.
The archery area is not well maintained but it’s not terrible. Be aware that the base of the frame is metal. Accidentally hitting the metal will guarantee an arrow of no return.
I’m not a fan of the one and only bathroom there but what can you expect from a public facility?
There is a lot of noise echo with shots as the complex is within koko head crater and noise is kind of contained inside — although hikers on koko head stairs can hear the echo too.

GUNS — [[ BANG BANG BANG! ]]
Nice gun range, not crowded. It was a great way to spend our Sunday FUN DAY!!!
We were shooting M4 rifle, M&P and a Glock 23. Always nice to get out and shoot! Shooting also makes a great stress reliever ;)
We brought all our own guns, ammo and targets. They had lots of parking. Oh and they require ear and eye protection at all times while on the range.
ARCHERY — [[ YOU HAVE FAILED THIS CITY ]]
(I think I been watching too much arrow)
The archery range is located at the entrance of the complex. We brought our own bow and arrows to shoot.
Unfortunately there is no shade =_​_​_​= I really think they should build something there to give shade.
However lucky for us it was overcast, so the sun was not a problem for us. Although we did get hit by some rain on and off.

Great place to go shooting. They have handgun, rifle, silhouette, trap, archery and skeet ranges. Most are free but some are only a few bucks. Skeet and trap are about $ 6 per person (for non-​members) and silhouette is around $ 4 per person.

I love the smell of gun powder in the morning!
Nice gun range. Not crowded. Staff here is friendly, and keeps everything in good order.
I dont like how you can only have five rounds in at a time, but i guess it helps make things more safe, and not bad if you have plenty of magazines. Fun day. Always nice to get out and shoot!

This place could really be a lot better.
It is very poorly maintained, limited distances, always crowded, and nazi range officers on top of that.
Most of the sand bags have holes in it (if you can find any to use), the whole facility looks like crap and is run down. The hours are extremely limited and for how crowded it is, you’d think they’d add more hours to accommodate the citizens, nope, forgot this is the corrupt Hawaii government.
The rifle distances are 50 and a 100 yards. You must bring your own frame. You can only shoot 1 round per second and it’s a set bench firing line. Hard to get any kind of real marksmanship work in. But hey, at least it’s free. Oh, and that’s if you get a bench. On top of their crappy hours, they have a retiree club of seems like city and county folks that go there regularly, hog the benches, and barely actually pull the trigger.
The range officers are a bunch of old fat guys who are the biggest assholes in the world. Granted there are a couple who are non-​assholes, it seems like the others can ruin it for everyone. I’ve seen them get aggressive to a new shooter numerous times when they could have explained the rules calmly. (Note: no safety issues were in play, they just cop’d an attitude). One example is instead of saying «Hi, please sign in before you shoot» they’ll literally yell at you «SIGN IN!!» and be a little wise ass. If you have a question, they are often sarcastic and extremely unfriendly. I’ve seen one particular fat bearded bastard on the rifle side get aggressive to people for no reason other than his low blood sugar (i believe he is type 2).
It’s actually quite funny because they are so fat or have only one working leg that they would get back handed through a wall. I guess no one has checked their attitude so they think they can just be obnoxious. Perhaps they let out their own frustrations of their less than stellar lives and accomplishments. Being overweight and hating their life seems to be a common theme amongst them. The only people they seem to enjoy are their fellow retirees who hog the benches. I even heard them laughing about their poor reviews on here (That’s what made me want to write one). Oh well, I guess all you can do is feel sorry for their pathetic existence.
On the other side, the pistol range is just as bad with a bunch of bulky item pickups all over the bench area. It looks like shit and it basically is shit. Not sure the exact distances but the range ‘officers’ over there are just as pathetic. Old losers who lived a boring life that barely speak english and one has a bad leg. They love wearing their fluorescent vests so that they feel special. Even their vests suck. They often won’t move when you are trying to walk by them, won’t greet you other than to yell «SIGN IN!!!»
I’ve been all over the US and to multiple different ranges. I give it one star because it is free, but that is a double edge sword. If it was a for fee range, maybe there would be some incentive to improve it. As it stands, you can retire from the C&C and go hang out on the benches and not actually fire anything while watching the facility rust. No real marksmanship training here, oh well, in a few years they will all probably die of old age. It’s a real shame that this is the only option for civilians.

I had only been to indoor ranges before coming here. I suggest coming with an experienced Koko Head user or come alone to watch and see how things run beforehand. The staff is really great about enforcing the rules, so you don’t want to look like the awkward newbie. Remember to sign in when you arrive.
It’s a nice range for what it is. Best of all it’s free! Lots of parking, too. Just bring your own protective gear, targets, target stand, and guns. And be mindful of everyone and everything around you… safety first!
Have run and get there early. Space is limited.

Good shooting range. Includes paper target ranges for handguns and rifles and steel plate ranges as well. They have a clay range for shotguns as well.
Admission is free, paper target ranges are free (bring your own target and stand).
It is all BYO Ammo and Gun.
Range masters are strict, which is GOOD.

Actual Rating: 4 stars
(Review is strictly for silhouette side)
Due to the increase of firearm purchases, it’s getting even more crowded.
That aside, the facility has been improving greatly. They supply mats to lay things down and they have range masters that are always on top of things. When I first shot there, I got warned once or twice, but I’m glad they’re on top of it. Put your pride aside, they will make sure the range is safe for all.
There are a bunch of targets to shot at, from 50, 75, 100, and… 200? feet? yards? Haha I actually need to clarify but if I had to guess, it’s measured in feet. I’ll update this review if I’m wrong.
Aside from that, the staff and facilities are great.
My only complaint, and this is more towards the shooters, is I wish people would be responsible and walk out to help pick up targets during a cease fire. There have been many occasions when I’m the only one walking out there to pick up targets for everyone to shoot. Usually one or two people pick up on this but come on shooters, quit being lazy. If anything, the range masters should announce it or put signs up. It’s a public range and we all need to do our share.

The Koko Head Shooting Range is great stop when exploring East Oahu with visiting friends from Japan. It is 100% free to shoot your own guns and ammo at the pistol and rifle ranges. Thanks to the many hard-​working range safety personnel, the Koko Head Shooting Range is a safe place to shoot! Ample free parking with virtually UNLIMITED SECURITY! Highly recommended!
Not much is sexier than a Japanese tourist girl wearing a baseball jacket, white shorts, and UGG boots while shooting a S&W .44 Magnum with a 8 ³⁄₈ inch barrel! See my picture!
Spent .44 Mag shell casings make great OMIYAGE!

I don’t really have too much to compare this place to, but it’s one of the few outdoor shooting ranges around in the greater Honolulu area. The facilities are pretty old, and by no means pretty, but it gets the job done. There is ample parking (on the grass) available all over the place, and restrooms and soda machines here and there.
Bring your own guns, ammo, eye and ear protection, and targets (if you’re shooting pistols or rifles). You can find the target frame dimensions on their website
. They don’t have any for public rental or sales. There are several ranges to choose from; A pistol range, rifle range, and a couple shotgun ranges where you can shoot flying clay discs (trap & skeet shooting). There will be a modest fee charged if you’re shooting trap or skeet for the clay discs you’re using.
Friendliness of the staff is hit or miss. For the most part they’re pretty friendly, or indifferent, but occasionally you’ll get a real grump running the show. If you’re heading there on a Friday be sure to check the City and County furlough schedule in case they’re closed that day.
I also noticed an archery range at the entrance of the complex, so I hope to check that out one day. However, there is no shade in that area, so I’d suggest bringing a folding canopy if you do decide to check it out.

My first day out at Koko Head was fantastic and terrible. Or terribly fantastic. I had a great time, but I destroyed my frame! 1×3 wood does not hold up long against 7 holes made with a .357 mag. Just a little unofficial «quick tip» for ya’ll there. I took all the right steps, went to a pistol safety course, practices and tried some different guns, made my purchases. Nobody had the time to go out to koko head with me so I took the initiative and went out on my own.
The facilities at Koko Head are there, but hurting from lack of city funding. There are restrooms in the center of the complex and also up between the rifle and silhouette ranges. The recent implementation of furlough days and decrease hours is a sad thing. As if the range weren’t crowded enough, things really get buzzing on the weekends, often with lines at various ranges.
Current hours are on the website along with a lot of this info. I am just condensing some of it down since I know it off the top of my head.
Here’s what is offered:
1. Pistol Bullseye 25 and 50 yds
2. Rifle Bullseye 50 and 100 yds with metal plates at 200−440yds
3. Silhouette ($ 5 per person, club operated)
4. Trap ($ 5 per round, club operated)
5. Skeet (I need to double check, I think it’s $ 10)
6. Club shooting on weekends (practical, cowboy/​single action, etc.)
7. Archery
Requirements:
For ALL shooting you are required to have: Eye protection, ear protection, gun & ammo (none for rent or sale at the range). And other supplies depending on what you are shooting.
Target Frames:
Gotta bring your own target and target frame for both pistol and rifle bullseye ranges. See the website for frame specifications. They need to be pretty precise in order to fit into the frame holders. They are not the same size or interchangeable!
Silhouette:
You can shoot .22LR as well as any caliber handgun though I think .50 isn’t allow at the moment. Not sure. Love coming here! And the first Sunday of every month they hold .22LR silhouette matches with a $ 5 entrance fee. Good friendly competition and lunch to follow.
Trap and Skeet:
Now this is one of my favorites. It’s just so dang gratifying seeing that clay disintegrate in mid air! All you really need is your shotgun and ammo, maybe a pouch for your shells. They supply the clay birds (which you pay for in your fee).
All of the ranges are very safe with strict rules and protocols enforced by range officers. Most people are very friendly helpful. Remember to read the rules that are posted at each range and know at least the basics of gun safety.
1. Always point the gun in a safe direction.
2. Always keep your finder off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Koko Head is lacking in a few areas, state of facilities, hours, shooting options/​distances. But I’ll tell you, I am always stoked as I’m cruising down Kalanianaole hwy on a Sunday morning to go make some holes and shatter some clay!