If it's a good price it almost doesn't matter how weird people are. Almost. A lot of the things he says do stick with me, and in a few minutes of listening to his rants he can impart some important information and possible valuable insight. In any case it forces you to consider things a little differently.

One subject in particular was the last gun show and I think his analysis was spot-on. I don't want to use quotes but the gist of it was that nobody is excited about gun shows any more. Guns should be marked down to the bare minimum and flying out the door, but instead only two shops showed up with ok deals and it was mostly on ammo. There's no atmosphere of excitement because most vendors are too stingy and it's causing a missed opportunity to build community and introduce new shooters to the sport. How are we supposed to get people enthusiastic about firearms when the biggest event in the state isn't that big a deal?

Hey guys, thanks for the reality check.  I see what you mean about his fire and passion.  It's good and everyone needs to feel important from time to time. I remembered him from a Suarez class back in the day when I was a contractor. He was no were near as passionate at the course though. Just one of the guys who was very quiet. I guess if you have your gun shop you can do that to people since folks allow it to happen. By no means did he scare us.  I enjoy it when people talk quite highly of them selves.  I see it all the time in industry over the last 15 years.  His views are not unique and I have seen worst. (Arrogant Shot Show Vendors/Dealers)  Yep, his website tells it all. Wow!  Good kid though.  Just felt bad he was talking down to a former LEO friend of mine who decided to just let him expound on his vast knowledge of combat application in an urban setting. ;-)

He seems like a very unhappy person.

The reason being is that there is no more Kaimuki Q

The reason being is that there is no more Kaimuki Q

What is Kaimuki Q?

He seems like a very unhappy person.

The reason being is that there is no more Kaimuki Q

http://midlifecrisishawaii.com/tag/kaimuki-cue

No one is above a little bashing, and I suppose Daniel is an easy target.  He's opinionated, outspoken, and a little deficient on social skills.

That being said, he is one of the most dedicated proponents of 2A rights in the state.  He has been organizing and running the HRA/LIFE fun shoots for a decade.  He brings a CARLOAD of guns to each of those events, and donates hundreds of dollars of ammo so that people can try them every month.  He donates guns and other prizes to 2A fund raisers such as the FNRA dinner.  He gives cases of ammo and allows the use of dozens of his guns for the Shooting Sports Fair.  He teaches with LIFE, and when he does, brings more guns than the rest of the other instructors combined.  He's tireless, and makes me embarrassed to call myself an advocate by comparison.

Does he really know his stuff?  I'm not into the whole tactical / tacticool training thing, but he is hired, on a fairly regular basis, by the US military to conduct training for them.  My favorite is the Navy hiring him to train things like "how to retake your ship after it has been boarded."  Whatever he may be full of, it's something that our troops are benefiting from. 

I'm not saying you have to like him.  I'm certainly not saying your negative experience, if you've had one, is invalid.  I am saying the guy is a force for good with few equals in this arena.

No one is above a little bashing, and I suppose Daniel is an easy target.  He's opinionated, outspoken, and a little deficient on social skills.

That being said, he is one of the most dedicated proponents of 2A rights in the state.  He has been organizing and running the HRA/LIFE fun shoots for a decade.  He brings a CARLOAD of guns to each of those events, and donates hundreds of dollars of ammo so that people can try them every month.  He donates guns and other prizes to 2A fund raisers such as the FNRA dinner.  He gives cases of ammo and allows the use of dozens of his guns for the Shooting Sports Fair.  He teaches with LIFE, and when he does, brings more guns than the rest of the other instructors combined.  He's tireless, and makes me embarrassed to call myself an advocate by comparison.

Does he really know his stuff?  I'm not into the whole tactical / tacticool training thing, but he is hired, on a fairly regular basis, by the US military to conduct training for them.  My favorite is the Navy hiring him to train things like "how to retake your ship after it has been boarded."  Whatever he may be full of, it's something that our troops are benefiting from. 

I'm not saying you have to like him.  I'm certainly not saying your negative experience, if you've had one, is invalid.  I am saying the guy is a force for good with few equals in this arena.

No one is above a little bashing, and I suppose Daniel is an easy target.  He's opinionated, outspoken, and a little deficient on social skills.

That being said, he is one of the most dedicated proponents of 2A rights in the state.  He has been organizing and running the HRA/LIFE fun shoots for a decade.  He brings a CARLOAD of guns to each of those events, and donates hundreds of dollars of ammo so that people can try them every month.  He donates guns and other prizes to 2A fund raisers such as the FNRA dinner.  He gives cases of ammo and allows the use of dozens of his guns for the Shooting Sports Fair.  He teaches with LIFE, and when he does, brings more guns than the rest of the other instructors combined.  He's tireless, and makes me embarrassed to call myself an advocate by comparison.

Does he really know his stuff?  I'm not into the whole tactical / tacticool training thing, but he is hired, on a fairly regular basis, by the US military to conduct training for them.  My favorite is the Navy hiring him to train things like "how to retake your ship after it has been boarded."  Whatever he may be full of, it's something that our troops are benefiting from. 

I'm not saying you have to like him.  I'm certainly not saying your negative experience, if you've had one, is invalid.  I am saying the guy is a force for good with few equals in this arena.

Finally, please understand that there a hand full of credible folks working at the AT/FP Training Center at Pearl Harbor.  I am not sure if he is one of those guys.  As I have stated before, the young man has passion but I personally would not want this guy covering my rear, based on the responses from his patrons and how he is perceived. He just dose not fit the persona of a credible instructor who is open to encouraging potential students to understand their limitations and capabilities under stress in a non permissive environment.  I am sorry but Suarez International and Chuck Taylor Schools do not count!  (check KGS website) These firearms instructors were former FRONT SIGHT employees who figured out a way to make money buy teaching folks dynamic shooting positions etc.  Chuck has a handgun master test which is not very difficult.  Suarez International dose not have a standards test, like SIG SAUER Academy and Rogers Shooting School. I have been fortunate enough to attend these schools and I always aspire to stay humble as firearms student/instructor because there are always going to be different ways to solve a problem.
Now I am curious and I will contact our folks at Ford Island to see what his background is, since he must be an adjunct instructor according to your statement, the next time we are TDY in Hawaii.
Lets put an end to this thread and I really appreciate the candid feedback.  I never expected to see this many response in a short amount of time.  Tom, you are right! KGS has definitely made an impact in this  arena.
Mahalo Gents!

Nino Brown donated food on Thanksgiving.
I shared my experience and I say a serenity prayer.
Maybe Dan was a former .mil? operator? SERE grad?
When he broke away from Wild West guns or whatever that store was in Kaneohe he was selling those little Ranger, SF handbooks and talking survival tips for Y2K.

hey, wait a minute, i used to hang out at kaimuki que
what does that say about me?

mmmmmm
never mind, don't answer that

Tom, I hope that we did not hurt anyone with the blog.  I was just curious and it certainly drew a lot of attention from folks who are more experienced with the shop. I took no offense from the little guy and yes he can be an easy target which is why we just left the shop politely.  He has a chip on his shoulder. Judging by the comments on Yelp it is what it is.

Hey thats great if he donates his time and I had no idea! Good on him for supporting a local "not for profit"  club.  Besides, it looks like Kokohead is the only viable solution for non MIL/LEO to improve their weapons manipulation skill set, unless you have your own land or know someone who has the acreage to shoot.

Let me put this into perspective.  Some of the biggest jerks in the gun industry volunteer and give back to the community as well.  Rob Pincus will belittle neophytes during a class just because he can.  He speaks so fast and vomits a bunch of information which literally confuses less seasoned shooters.  However, when you see him on Personal Defense Network, he is a saint and the next best thing to "tacticool".  Many years ago, I aspired to train with him.  It was a big disappointment when we trained with his company.  Some of our personal associates will not invite him to various units who are preparing to go into harms way. 

Another example is Mark La Rue, from La Rue Tactical.  He donates thousands of dollars to various 2A organizations across the country.  Unfortunately, he is very arrogant and it shows when ever we see him at Shot Show.  He once placed an offered at his booth to replace defective ARMS mounts with his mounts in effort to discredit the competition.  The management from Shot Show told him to stop doing that.  He complied and refused to speak to anyone for the rest of the show.  No class at all. There are more of them out there and the owner of KGS is no exception.  We have that in the mainland too.

Finally, please understand that there a hand full of credible folks working at the AT/FP Training Center at Pearl Harbor.  I am not sure if he is one of those guys.  As I have stated before, the young man has passion but I personally would not want this guy covering my rear, based on the responses from his patrons and how he is perceived. He just dose not fit the persona of a credible instructor who is open to encouraging potential students to understand their limitations and capabilities under stress in a non permissive environment.  I am sorry but Suarez International and Chuck Taylor Schools do not count!  (check KGS website) These firearms instructors were former FRONT SIGHT employees who figured out a way to make money buy teaching folks dynamic shooting positions etc.  Chuck has a handgun master test which is not very difficult.  Suarez International dose not have a standards test, like SIG SAUER Academy and Rogers Shooting School. I have been fortunate enough to attend these schools and I always aspire to stay humble as firearms student/instructor because there are always going to be different ways to solve a problem.

Now I am curious and I will contact our folks at Ford Island to see what his background is, since he must be an adjunct instructor according to your statement, the next time we are TDY in Hawaii.

Lets put an end to this thread and I really appreciate the candid feedback.  I never expected to see this many response in a short amount of time.  Tom, you are right! KGS has definitely made an impact in this  arena.

Mahalo Gents!

No one is above a little bashing, and I suppose Daniel is an easy target.  He's opinionated, outspoken, and a little deficient on social skills.

That being said, he is one of the most dedicated proponents of 2A rights in the state.  He has been organizing and running the HRA/LIFE fun shoots for a decade.  He brings a CARLOAD of guns to each of those events, and donates hundreds of dollars of ammo so that people can try them every month.  He donates guns and other prizes to 2A fund raisers such as the FNRA dinner.  He gives cases of ammo and allows the use of dozens of his guns for the Shooting Sports Fair.  He teaches with LIFE, and when he does, brings more guns than the rest of the other instructors combined.  He's tireless, and makes me embarrassed to call myself an advocate by comparison.

Does he really know his stuff?  I'm not into the whole tactical / tacticool training thing, but he is hired, on a fairly regular basis, by the US military to conduct training for them.  My favorite is the Navy hiring him to train things like "how to retake your ship after it has been boarded."  Whatever he may be full of, it's something that our troops are benefiting from. 

I'm not saying you have to like him.  I'm certainly not saying your negative experience, if you've had one, is invalid.  I am saying the guy is a force for good with few equals in this arena.