I'm trying to find some instructors on island that teach more than just the basic safety and marksmanship classes.
KMConcepts advertises low light pistol and carbine simunition on their site,  but after talking to the guys in person,  or turns out they no longer have the facilities to offer it and can only do it if you can provide them.
Kanehoe Gun Shop has a page full of cool training they offered in the past,  but I've emailed them three times over the course of a few months about future training to no response.
X Ring has a concealed carry course,  but $300 for a course that only uses 100 rounds is clearly a rip off,  and I don't trust ranges that make you but their ammo.
So from what I can tell,  the only guy remaining is North Shore Marksman with three pistol courses and a shotgun course.
Even when I did a bit of looking on other islands,  all I saw was,  again,  basic safety and marksmanship.  It's NSM really the only place in the state with what I'm looking for?

At the Gun Show, there were two or three booths that offer tactical training on private land. One was probably the North Shore Marksman you mentioned.

Training here is a light for civilians.  I've taken most of my training through the military and law enforcement who have more opportunities.  I'm still working on my training chart which you can use:  https://2ahawaii.com/index.php?topic=28961.0.  You have to split up training into two paths, marksmanship and tactics.

Take a CCW course or the similar NRA path of Personal Protection Inside/Outside the Home courses which is a good start.  I've heard good things about the Northshore Marksman classes.  Other training is OJT from the experts that you meet.  LIFE/HRA have some clinics that are the next step up from basic pistol. HDF has a monthly clinic on drawing from holsters, manipulations, and shooting from different positions.  Schofield Rod and Gun Club also has some clinics for the military.  The Chinese Gun Club has bullseye pistol matches that work on accuracy out to 50 yards and they have a lot of helpful people there to guide you.  And finally the USPSA clubs (MPPL, HPS, RRBH, THS) do the run and gun matches and have lots of helpful experts that will guide you.

For other classes, I've had to go to the mainland for my civilian training.  Frontsight in Las Vegas is popular with the locals and has very affordable training.  Sig Sauer Academy in New Hampshire trains a lot of law enforcement and special forces and has a lot of different marksmanship and tactical classes, but travel costs are quite expensive.  I've also took a bunch of NRA classes on the mainland that aren't offered here.

You can also train on your own using youtube videos.  NRA, NSSF, and Sig Sauer have good training channels.  There are many others, but you have to be careful as some of them teach very questionable and unsafe tactics.

I'm actually military,  if that opens more options.
How is the NRA protection courses? I got certified as a pistol instructor before I enlisted and came here and personally hate the curriculum they taught,  so I'm suspicious of NRA training now.
Do you have a link to the LIFE/HDF/HRA courses you mentioned? Everything I see from them is beginner stuff.
And I already planned on doing the USPSA once I get my guns on island soon,  I did IDPA back in Georgia.

I’ve taken a number of courses on the mainland. I’ve tried to Bri f a few here, but range availability had prevented that. There are courses available. The ones that I’ve attended have been on private land. I have also shot with HRA and HDF. I used to shoot with SRGC, but let me membership lapse. They had some static training stuff going recently though.

Where can I find these private island training classes?

I rely on youtube because our training is so limited here.

I'm actually military,  if that opens more options.
How is the NRA protection courses? I got certified as a pistol instructor before I enlisted and came here and personally hate the curriculum they taught,  so I'm suspicious of NRA training now.
Do you have a link to the LIFE/HDF/HRA courses you mentioned? Everything I see from them is beginner stuff.
And I already planned on doing the USPSA once I get my guns on island soon,  I did IDPA back in Georgia.

NRA instructor cert is good to have and the curriculum is a one size fits all approach for beginners, youth, elderly, handicapped, etc.  Good to see you are trying different things since many NRA instructors only have that and shortchange their students with their limited knowledge.

www.lifehawaii.com
www.hawaiidefensefoundation.org - they also post on this forum too.
www.hawaiirifleassociation.org
www.srgchi.org - shooting on schofield is nice, however they do have a lot of requirements you have to go through.

I have the events posted up on the master event calendar.

There are great training courses on the mainland, but of course they also have deserts and wooded areas that accommodate live fire training.  In Hawaii, that just isn't readily available.

Maybe $300 for a course in Hawaii is a "rip off," or maybe it's the high cost of doing business in an anti-gun, over taxed. litigation-happy Socialist run state?  I don't blame the course provider for the environment that's unfriendly to business and 2A.  It is what it is.

I tend to look for the best I can afford.  Front Sight, while not local, was very affordable.  $200 for the membership plus $50 for the background check.  That included a 5-day defensive handgun course and the CCW training, fingerprinting and notarizations needed for up to 4 permits -- AZ, NV, UT and FL.  Ammo cost is what it is no matter  where you train.  Some places are cheaper than others, so shop around.  I spent $225 on 1,000 rds Fiocchi 124gr 9mm ammo for the course at a local ammo store there.  I shot all but 80 rounds.  If I lived in Vegas or nearby, I'd be taking Front Sight training a few times a year. 

Travel was incidental.  I used my frequent flier miles for a free roundtrip ticket, and I stayed in Vegas in a comp'ed hotel room.  I paid for a rental car and the gas to travel to the training site every day.  After being on a gridlocked island, driving for an hour on open highway is relaxing!

The local course might have been more convenient and a few bucks cheaper, but the whole experience with a large group of well-trained instructors, the variety of training scenarios, and the constant attention to safety was well worth it.  Not to mention I also won $2,500 playing blackjack!   

I'd look at my financial resources, vacations I might want to take, and training opportunities along the way.  You might be able to do better than limiting yourself to Oahu courses.

Just my own personal experience and opinion.   

HDF (Hawaii Defense Foundation)

Check 'em out. They're in the gun clubs section.
(Zippz listed the website above)

PM Macsak or Dirtylickins with any questions you may have.

I'm actually military,  if that opens more options.
How is the NRA protection courses? I got certified as a pistol instructor before I enlisted and came here and personally hate the curriculum they taught,  so I'm suspicious of NRA training now.
Do you have a link to the LIFE/HDF/HRA courses you mentioned? Everything I see from them is beginner stuff.
And I already planned on doing the USPSA once I get my guns on island soon,  I did IDPA back in Georgia.

Are you a member of SRGC?

I've done a few classes with North Shore Marksman. Very informative and well taught in my opinion. Because he teaches on private land, far less restrictive than shooting at a City or State run facility. He can do drills that you wouldn't be allowed to do otherwise. Last I talked to him, he was setting up a bigger range in Mokuleia. I haven't talked with him in about 6 months.

My co-worker took a basic handgun course in Wailua at the bottom of Kaukonahua Rd. He signed up through North Shore Sporting Goods. He stated that they also do more advanced carbine and handgun training on the property. I was interested but never really pursued it.

There was also a group doing training out on the Waianae side. I believe Black Rifle something?? Not sure if they are still doing anything.

I like HDF

I've done a few classes with North Shore Marksman. Very informative and well taught in my opinion. Because he teaches on private land, far less restrictive than shooting at a City or State run facility. He can do drills that you wouldn't be allowed to do otherwise. Last I talked to him, he was setting up a bigger range in Mokuleia. I haven't talked with him in about 6 months.

My co-worker took a basic handgun course in Wailua at the bottom of Kaukonahua Rd. He signed up through North Shore Sporting Goods. He stated that they also do more advanced carbine and handgun training on the property. I was interested but never really pursued it.

There was also a group doing training out on the Waianae side. I believe Black Rifle something?? Not sure if they are still doing anything.

I like HDF

I'll have to check North Shore out one of these days.  I saw their youtube and it looks fun/educational.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii just held the their Marksmanship Competition (formerly Pacific Division Matches). This year featured more Run & Gun events.It was 2 weeks of instruction and shooting at Kaneohe and Puuloa. This was open to military and select civilians. The Puuloa Rifle and Pistol Club had two civilian members participate this year. All weapons and ammunition came from your tax dollars.

I'll have to check North Shore out one of these days.  I saw their youtube and it looks fun/educational.

Let me know if and when you're ready.