I can take them apart and do basic maitenance and simple parts replacements...but I want to learn how to do the more complicating stuff, maybe even customizations too. Not necessarily in a commercial capacity, though that may come in handy one day, but more for expanding my hobby.

I know with Youtube and videos I can watch people's tutorial but I'm not exactly rolling in money and not too turned on by the thought of breaking my own things or disassembling something beyond my ability to piece back together.

Any recommendations on where to learn this stuff in Hawaii?

My extensive research on this very subject has lead me to two alternatives:
1. Make friends with someone who is a gunsmith.  Hang out with them.  Buy them pizza.
2. Save up and go to an NRA-sponsored class on the mainland.

I've sort of come to a similar conclusion as well in my few years of off and on casually seeking this information. I also figured just for personal knowledge I could take one of those online courses. I was hoping for a class or school or something in Hawaii. Meh!!

Funny you talked about gun smithing.  Two months ago, a buddy mine went to ETAC to pick up his 1911 after numerous trips of trying to get into contact with these guys.  He told me that the 2 guys who were working there was giving some of their buddies a chance to work at their shop to gain some sort of experience.  When I went there to pick up my weapon after numerous attempts as well.  I heard one of the owner saying they were not going to let anyone else work at the shop anymore because they were loosing money.  I politely paid my bill and left because they were getting in to a heated argument.  ETAC does some decent work but my 1911 will not lock to rear with out engaging the slide stop after the last round is fired.  Even with brand new Wilson Comp Mags, the slide will not securely lock to the  rear.  Maybe one of the those inexperienced guys worked my pistol.  No worries.  I just though I'd give a local business a try.  Going to send it to a quality Smith in AZ.  No telling what happened to my pistol. 

Dregs, Tom G is right.  If you have a chance, go to the mainland to get some pointers.  We used to frequent the attached 3 gun match were they had some quality G-Smiths on had to work on broken guns and to give pointers as well.  This is the link:  http://www.smm3gun.com/sponsors.htm 

Glock Armor course are also great to attend in conjunction with GSSF events.  Good times Man!

American Gunsmithing Institute

Google it...it sure beats youtube

It's definitely a start!

There is only a handfull of Acredited gun schools.

If you want to learn how the correct way, then you have to take a time out from your normal life
and go to a Mainland "real" gun school.

If you try to do the home school you tube thing and you screw up a Paying customer's gun.......

This is a very small state, word gets around real fast......

So, my advice, go to a real school.

Did you look into AGI yet? I think you can even DL the vids off filesharing or torrent sites. That way you can decide where to go from there. FWIW, I have tons of vids from these guys and they are worth every penny. The only reason why I am not certified is because I DL'ed half the vids I got.
 

Funny you mention that. Yes I did look into AGI and I already have a few videos downloaded from......umm.....sites. I haven't had a chance to really look through them yet since I've been working both my jobs nearly full-time to finance my next purchase  . So far it looks like a collection of really old videos. 80's? 90's? But if I like it then I would go through with it.

Perhaps some time this life or the next, I will be able to up and move to mainland to go through such schools if I still have such interests. But to just work on my own firearms I think the online source is good enough.

 

Every summer, I look at the NRA-sponsored school in California.

My 2011 summer is already spoken for, but if someone wants to commit to 2012, we can talk about sharing accommodations and such!

I've looked at those 1-week NRA certified courses for the past few days and they look really interesting. You've done them before? I like that Trinidad one and the Lesser(sp?) cali one. I think I'll go for the "intro to gunsmithing" and "reloading" classes. One day. lol.

Nope, haven't done them.  I just keep looking at them!  Each time, I try to figure out a way to swing a couple of weeks there, just stacking up the courses.  Then reality comes crashing down.  One year, though!