Koko Head Shooting Complex (KHSC) 

8102 Kalaniana‘ole Highway

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96825

(808) 768 - 6720

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  About KHSC               Archery              Rifle                       Pistol           Silhouette              Skeet             Trap         Cowboy       Prohibited Items    History of KHSC

Current Hours of Operation :

*Gated access from Kalaniana‘ole Highway into KHSC is scheduled to be opened a half hour before and a half hour after these hours of operation*

About KHSC:

1. This is a public facility operated by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). 
2. The complex includes O‘ahu's only public shooting range, and one of three City archery ranges.
3. These ranges are on the floor of an extinct volcanic crater and everyone shoots away from the center using the walls of the crater as a backstop.
4. There is ample free parking, restrooms facilities, and picnic areas.
5. We take safety and our range procedures described below very seriously. If you don’t know, are unsure, or have a questions, please ask the range personnel. They are there to help.
6. The Koko Head Shooting Complex does not provide any firearms, bows, arrows, or ammunition for sale or rent. You must provide these. For some ranges, you must provide the targets as well (see the range specific rules below)
7. There are seven separate ranges available for conditional public sport shooting use: 
   • Archery 
   • 100-yard Rifle
   • 25 to 50-yard Pistol
   • 200-meter Handgun Metallic Silhouette
   • American Skeet
   • American Trap
   • Action Pistol / Cowboy Action Shooting 
8. The Archery, Rifle, and Pistol ranges are operated by City DPR Range Attendants and are FREE FOR PUBLIC USE during regular hours posted above. The remaining ranges are operated by sport shooting clubs, under agreement with DPR. A nominal fee is necessary for targets. Here also, you must provide your own firearms and ammunition.

Basic Firearm Principles Observed at KHSC:

1. Always keep the gun & arrows pointed in a safe direction (even if unloaded).
2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot (firearm leveled at target).
3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use (ready to engage a target).

4. Hawai‘i State Law requires firearms to be transported, unloaded, in a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm, except as authorized by a valid License to Carry.

When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:

1. Know your target and what is beyond.
2. Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
3. Know how to use the gun safely.
4. Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
5. Wear eye and ear protection, as appropriate.
6. Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.
7. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized personsBe aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

Range Rules & Guidelines (Violation of any of the rules will result in dismissal from the ranges):

1. No alcohol or illegal drugs allowed. 
2. No animals allowed. 
3. Place all trash in trashcans. 
4. Range-specific rules are detailed below: 

Archery Range:

1. This is not a manned range and is free for public use.  Shooters must police themselves.
2. Bring your own target faces. Bales provided up to 90m.
3. No firearms and no crossbows permitted.
4. Only target or field point arrows allowed.
5. Area behind targets must be clear of persons before shooting.
6. All archers must shoot from the same shooting line.  No staggered shooting is allowed.  If archers present want to shoot at different shooting line distances, archers must alternate shooting lines allowing 30 minutes at each shooting line
7.  Shoot at target in your shooting lane only
8. No more than one archer is shooting; each archer is limited to 6 arrows
9. When arrow is strung on bow it must be pointed towards the ground or towards the target.  The arrow should never be pointed above the target or beyond either side of the target.  When arrow is on the bow it should never be pointed up.
10. When any person is observed in front of the target or in back of the target, all archers are to stop shooting.
11. All archers must retrieve arrows at the same time.  Make sure that all archers have ceased shooting before attempting to retrieve arrows.
12. When other archer/s are present, limit searching for stray arrows to 5 minutes
13. Archers must not string arrow on bow until all archers have returned to the shooting line.
14. When archers are not on shooting line and waiting to get on shooting line, they must not string arrow on bow at any time.
15. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
16. The archery range is for archery only.  Other activities are prohibited.
17. No animals are allowed in the archery area.
18. Archers will be held liable for any injury they cause to any persons.
19. Exercise caution and courtesy. Obey all range rules for the safety of the public and other archers.

 Rifle Range:

WHAT TO BRING: 

1. Firearm(s) in a Hawaii State Law approved case 
2. Eye and ear protection for all participants 
3. Targets and target frame.
4. Correct ammunition

RULES & PROCEDURES:

1. Please sign-in at the appropriate range office before firing. 
2. Ear & eye protection are mandatory for everyone, even if you are not shooting. 
3. Hawai‘i State Law requires firearms to be transported, unloaded, in a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm.
4. Targets may be placed at 50 and 100 yards only.
5. Effective Saturday, June 3, 2023:  For rifle range targets, center of lowest target must be at least 5 feet from the ground. 
6. No steel targets (gongs) allowed.
7. Targets are not provided, but must fit specifications so that the targets fit within designated target slots.The dimensions of the targets can be found by clicking here. Center of the lower target must be 5-feet from the ground. 
8. Know and obey all range commands
   • Complete your firing – finish up the ammunition that’s already loaded in your firearm 
     • Clear and unload your firearm
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • Cease fire – do NOT pull the trigger once this command is given.
     • Clear and unload your firearm immediately
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • The line is safe, you may go forward
     • After you’ve reset targets, stand behind the yellow line
   • The line is hot – you may approach your position, handle firearms and commence firing
   • Cease Fire may be called at anytime, not only when it is time to change targets.   Anyone may call Cease Fire if they feel there is any unsafe condition
9. Do NOT handle any firearms or stand at the firing line where firearms are present while others are down range during a cease fire.
10. Usr the proper ammunition and load no more than 5 rounds in the magazine.
11. No rapid or indiscriminate firing.
12. Shoot only at authorized targets. No plinking of objects on backstop berm or on the ground.  Human silhouette targets are not allowed.
13. Children age 17 and below must be accompanied by an adult.
14. Children 9-12 years may fire .22 long rifle caliber only, with an adult standing next to and assisting the child.
15. Children 8 years and younger are prohibited from using firearms.
16. No gambling.
17. Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited.
18. .50 caliber BMG prohibited.
19. Please place all trash in trash cans, and sweep up and dispose of spent casings in proper bins. 

Pistol Range: 

WHAT TO BRING: 

1. Firearm(s) in a Hawaii State Law approved case 
2. Eye and ear protection for all participants 
3. Targets and target frame
4. Correct ammunition

RULES & PROCEDURES:

1. Please sign-in at the appropriate range office before firing. 
2. Ear & eye protection are mandatory for everyone, even if you are not shooting. 
3. No eating or drinking on the firing line. 
4. Hawaii State Law requires firearms to be transported, unloaded, in a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm.
5. Targets are limited to 25 and 50 yards maximum.
6. Targets are not provided, but must fit specifications so that the targets fit within designated target slots. The dimensions of the targets can be found by clicking here, The targets may be made or store bought. 
7. Know and obey all range commands
   • Complete your firing – finish up the ammunition that’s already loaded in your firearm 
     • Clear and unload your firearm
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • Cease fire – do NOT pull the trigger once this command is given.
     • Clear and unload your firearm immediately
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • The line is safe, you may go forward
     • After you’ve reset targets, stand behind the yellow line
   • The line is hot – you may approach your position, handle firearms and commence firing
   • Cease Fire may be called at anytime, not only when it is time to change targets.   Anyone may call Cease Fire if they feel there is any unsafe condition
8. Do NOT handle any firearms or stand at the firing line where firearms are present while others are down range during a cease fire.
9. Usr the proper ammunition and load no more than 5 rounds in the magazine.
10. No rapid or indiscriminate firing.
11. Shoot only at authorized targets. No plinking of objects on backstop berm or on the ground.  Human silhouette targets are not allowed.
12. Children age 17 and below must be accompanied by an adult.
13. Children 9-12 years may fire .22 long rifle caliber only, with an adult standing next to and assisting the child.
14. Children 8 years and younger are prohibited from using firearms.
15. No gambling.
16. No brooms allowed to sweep up brass casings. Rakes are okay. 
17. Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited.
18. Please place all trash in trash cans, and sweep up and dispose of spent casings in proper bins.

 Silhouette Range: CLOSED 

WHAT TO BRING: 

1. Firearm(s) in a Hawaii State Law approved case 
2. Eye and ear protection for all participants 
3. Correct ammunition

RULES & PROCEDURES:

1. There is a $5.00 fee per day per person.
2. Please sign-in at the appropriate range office before firing. 
3. This range  is run by the Hawaii Metallic Silhouette Shooters Association. They are an IHMSA affiliated club.
4. Ear & eye protection are mandatory for everyone, even if you are not shooting. 
5. Hawaii State Law requires firearms to be transported, unloaded, in a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm.
6. You do not need to bring a target. 
7. The range provides metal targets from 50 meters through 100 meters. It’s a great plinking range. You can watch your targets go spinning off the stand with each hit.
8. Know and obey all range commands
   • Complete your firing – finish up the ammunition that’s already loaded in your firearm
     • Clear and unload your firearm
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • Cease fire – do NOT pull the trigger once this command is given.
     • Clear and unload your firearm immediately
     • Place it on the bench with the action open and chamber visible from the rear
     • Step behind the yellow line
   • The line is safe, you may go forward
     • After you’ve reset targets, stand behind the yellow line
   • The line is hot – you may approach your position, handle firearms and commence firing
   • Cease Fire may be called at anytime, not only when it is time to change targets.   Anyone may call Cease Fire if they feel there is any unsafe condition
9. You may fire .22 rimfire rifles on this range
10. Any caliber handgun, including semiautomatic or revolvers, may be fired on this range.
11. Centerfire rifles and shotguns prohibited.
12. Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited

American Skeet:

WHAT TO BRING: 

1. Shotgun transported in a Hawaii State Law approved case in good mechanical condition
2. Ammunition that matches the firearm
3. Eye and ear protection for all participants.

RULES:

1. The skeet range is operated by the Koko Head Skeet Club. Non club member fees are $6.00 for 25 targets.
2. Skeet is a shotgun game where you engage 25 clay targets. Coincidentally, 1 box of ammunition is 25 rounds.
3. You may use any gauge shotgun 12 gauge and smaller using number 8 bird shot and smaller.
4. Think gun safety at ALL times!
5. All shooters must register with the Range Officer BEFORE shooting
6. Only registered shooters are permitted on the skeet fields
7. Eye and ear protection are required at all times
8. No more than 2 rounds may be loaded in a gun at any time
9. Keep guns pointed in a safe direction at ALL times
10. Guns MUST be unloaded except when on a shooting station and ready to shoot
11. Gun actions MUST be open at all times except when on a shooting station
12. The use of alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited
13. Exercise extreme caution when exposed to thrown targets or target equipment
14. Only shotguns are permitted on this range (12 gauge or smaller)
15. Shot size must be number 8 or smaller
16. Shooters are responsible for the safe functioning and handling of their guns
17. Children under 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult at ALL times
18. Follow the range officers instruction
19. Unsafe behavior will NOT be tolerated
20. Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited

PROCEDURES: 

The squad starts at station #1 directly under the high house.

• Each person will shoot 1 bird from the high house, then 1 bird from the low house. Then a pair of birds launched simultaneously, one bird from each house. Beginners may opt for all single birds or a report pair that launches the second bird on report of the first shot.
• 4 targets are engaged at station 1, 2, 6 and 7.
• Singles, 1 each high and low, are engaged at stations 3, 4, 5 and 8.
• That equals only 24 shots. The first missed shot is an option and is refired.

 American Trap:

WHAT TO BRING: 

1. Shotgun transported according to State law in good mechanical condition
2. Ammunition that matches the firearm
3. Eye and ear protection

RULES :

1. The trap range is operated by the Honolulu Trap Club. Target fees are $5.75 for a round of trap (25 targets)
2. Safety is Always FIRST. Breach Open!
3. The Range Officer has full authorization to open and close the range to all shooters
4. When “Cease Fire” is announced, all weapons will be immediately cleared, grounded, and pointing downrange with actions open
5. A maximum of one (1) shell may be loaded when on the firing line and ready to fire except when shooting Doubles, a maximum of two (2) shells may be loaded when on the firing line and ready to fire
6. No shooting at materials (i.e. soda cans, etc.) other than clay targets or patterning sheets
7. No shooting of any wildlife at any time
8. Hearing and Eye protection while on the firing line is MANDATORY
9. No unsupervised children near the firing line at anytime. (A shoter is NOT a supervisor!)
10. No magnum loads or loads with shot size larger than 7 1/2
11. Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited

PROCEDURES:

Trap is a very fast paced sport keeping interest levels high.

• Shooters are grouped into 5 man squads.
• The first “post” engages a target then the second then the thrid.
• After the 5th shoots, then it’s post 1 again. After 5 shots, the squad rotates 1 position clockwise moving the man on post 5 to station 1.
• The front line is 16 yards from the trap house.
• During trap tournaments, shooters are “handicapped” as far back as 27 yards.
• There is 1 trap machine in the trap house which “oscillates” back and forth and pauses. Hence the shooter never knows what angle the trap bird is coming out at.
• As the shooters moves around the field, the angle changes from left to right.

Action Pistol / Cowboy Action Shooting: CLOSED

ACTION PISTOL:

• Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited
• Please visit the Mid Pacific Pistol League website for more information 

COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING:

• Tracer, incendiary, exploder or armor piercing type ammunition is prohibited
• Please visit the Single Action Shootists of Hawaii website for more information. 

 Prohibited Items: 

The following items are unlawful to own or possess in Hawai‘i and CANNOT be brought to the Koko Head Shooting Complex 

* misdemeanor 1 yr. jail, $2000 fine   ** C felony 5 yrs jail, $10,000 fine

1.   Fully auto firearms**

2.   Unregistered handguns *

3.   Unregistered long guns acquired after 6/30/94*

4.   Shotguns with less than 18″ barrels**

5.   Rifles with less than 16″ barrels**

6.   Silencers**

7.   Hand grenades**

8.   Dynamite and blasting caps**

9.   Bombs and bombshells**

10.  Exploding or impact segmenting projectiles**

11.  Armor piercing projectiles**

12.  More than 10 round magazines that will fit a pistol * or ** if in a handgun

13.  Cannons**

14.  Firearms with altered, removed or obliterated make, model or number *

15.  Butterfly knives*

16.  Switch blade and gravity knives*

17.  Handguns with die cast frames or receivers with a melting temperture of less than 800 degrees, unless registered prior to
7/1/75 *

18.  Electric guns*

19  .Assault pistols not owned and registered prior to 7/1/92 *

20. Tracer ammunition. 

History of KHSC

Kahauloa Crater, where the Koko Head Shooting Complex is located, is legendarily the home of Hawaiian Menehune. Kahauloa literally translates to "long hau tree".

The rifle range background is Koko Crater, or in Hawaiian Kohelepelepe which translates to the inner lips of the vagina. According to a racy legend, the pig demigod Kamapua’a hotly pursued the goddess of fire Pele on the Big Island. The goddess Kapo, Pele’s sister, detached her kohe (female genitalia) and flung it to eastern O’ahu to divert Kamapua’a. The trick apparently worked because the pig demigod followed the so-called flying genitalia and left Pele alone. The imprint became the crater known as Kohelepelepe. 

On December 29, 1928 an agreement was struck between the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop and the City and County of Honolulu, Territory of Hawai‘i, for the sum of $1.00, the property which is now known as the Koko Head Regional Park be sold to the City and County of Honolulu : “That it will and they shall use the conveyed premises for purposes of public parks and/or rights of way, and for no other purposes”.

Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation records indicate that the rifle range was first established in Kahauloa Crater  in 1937, with an office constructed for the shooting range during WWII (around the same time the Koko Head summit bunkers were being built). 

Time warp to 1950. The National Guard had already developed Kahauloa Crater into a shooting range training facility. The city discovered that they owned the crater property and proceeded to regain the rights to the range. Bill Niau, discharged from 222nd Military Police in Guam, was back home in Hawai‘i looking for a job. Bill applied for a groundskeeper position with the City and County of Honolulu and discovered the position required a firearms background. A match made in heaven, Bill Niau became resident caretaker and range master of The Koko Head Shooting Complex. When Bill took over the responsibilities of the range in 1950, the rifle range was in its current position, the pistol range was on the Hanauma Bay side of the crater, and somewhere within the crater walls was a skeet range. Everyone remembers Bill with his Khaki uniform. Bill retired on December 18, 1986 with 36 years of service.

Howard Pang, an avid shooter, took on the responsibilities of the shooting complex after Bill retired. Howard held the range master position until August 15, 1991. Howard tried to make the people aware the complex was a public park and tried to educate the people about the privileges of using the park and strived to keep the park clean.

In 1994 the complex was reconfigured. The biggest change made was the pistol range was moved to the mauka side of the crater adjacent to the rifle  range and a trap field was installed. The new design was implemented by Willie Hee of ESH, an engineering firm.