So after a little research,  I've discovered there is 0 orienteering (navigating with map and compass) in Hawaii outside of military land nav training (and I can personally attest that that is minimal. ) I really enjoy orienteering,  and was thinking of maybe getting a club going,  was wondering of anyone was interested, or even if anyone could recommend a suitable location on Oahu to do it. From my research I've found plenty of trails,  but can't really tell what wooded areas the public are allowed to just roam around,  off the beaten trail.

So after a little research,  I've discovered there is 0 orienteering (navigating with map and compass) in Hawaii outside of military land nav training (and I can personally attest that that is minimal. ) I really enjoy orienteering,  and was thinking of maybe getting a club going,  was wondering of anyone was interested, or even if anyone could recommend a suitable location on Oahu to do it. From my research I've found plenty of trails,  but can't really tell what wooded areas the public are allowed to just roam around,  off the beaten trail.

First off, don't go out roaming unless you have someone along with some experience hiking those areas -- primarily the ridges.  There have been several people reported killed or severely injured falling off the ridges, even active military members.

With GPS so prevalent and precise, not to mention it's available on cell phones and cheap-ish handheld receivers and watches, using a map and compass is almost obsolete.  I know it's a good fall-back if batteries die or you're lost without such technology, but being able to pinpoint a location to the nth minute and second of Lat/Long has many advantages.

We used to do orienteering in Boy Scouts in the mainland.  We'd have competitions to see which troop could find hidden clues and run the course the fastest.

Nowadays, people are into geocaching.  According to the website, there are 1,337 geocached locations near Mililani.

https://www.geocaching.com/play

First off, don't go out roaming unless you have someone along with some experience hiking those areas -- primarily the ridges.  There have been several people reported killed or severely injured falling off the ridges, even active military members.

With GPS so prevalent and precise, not to mention it's available on cell phones and cheap-ish handheld receivers and watches, using a map and compass is almost obsolete.  I know it's a good fall-back if batteries die or you're lost without such technology, but being able to pinpoint a location to the nth minute and second of Lat/Long has many advantages.

We used to do orienteering in Boy Scouts in the mainland.  We'd have competitions to see which troop could find hidden clues and run the course the fastest.

Nowadays, people are into geocaching.  According to the website, there are 1,337 geocached locations near Mililani.

https://www.geocaching.com/play

Never claimed it was the most practical skill,  I just think it's fun. I did a few training courses before I enlisted,  and it was one of my favorite parts of basic. I would say that I wish we did more training events with it,  but the army has a way of making even the funnest events frustrating (I never thought I would dread going to the range. )

It exists here in Hawaii for the private sector, but private is the keyword, followed by rare.  It would be easier hunting unicorns than seeking out this type of activity/training and trying to get involved.  Maybe in the future, mantracking, land nav, and other related topics could possibly become more available to the private sector in Hawaii.  I would look more towards the Big Island if this were to happen. 

It exists here in Hawaii for the private sector, but private is the keyword, followed by rare.  It would be easier hunting unicorns than seeking out this type of activity/training and trying to get involved.  Maybe in the future, mantracking, land nav, and other related topics could possibly become more available to the private sector in Hawaii.  I would look more towards the Big Island if this were to happen.

So why not make it happen? I could teach people and organize a club open to anyone, just need to find people who are interested.

So why not make it happen? I could teach people and organize a club open to anyone, just need to find people who are interested.

Oh,  and a place to do it at.

So why not make it happen?

There is no reason not to make it happen.  Go for it! 

The hunting area at kuaokala might be a good place.  Or talk to Kualoa ranch.  There may be some areas on schofield where you could do it.

GoRuck, close and coming to Honolulu in September.

https://www.goruck.com/constellation/

https://www.goruck.com/event-12971/#

GoRuck, close and coming to Honolulu in September.

https://www.goruck.com/constellation/

https://www.goruck.com/event-12971/#

Sounds fun!

GoRuck, close and coming to Honolulu in September.

https://www.goruck.com/constellation/

https://www.goruck.com/event-12971/#

I did a GoRuck Light a few years ago and was pretty disappointed. It didn’t seem like it was planned out at all. The event was supposed to be a special Pearl Harbor theme and sounded awesome on their website. Turns out the instructor just assumed that there would be enough military participating that we could sponsor everyone to get on post. The ratio of military to civilian was just small enough that we wouldn’t be able to, so we just wandered around town for a few hours. Most of it was alongside of or under the highway, dodging homeless people. It was pretty much a giant waste of money. I assume the harder events are better planned, but I won’t spend any more money to find out.

Disappointing.  Sounds great in concept, but yes, it would seem that it would be a challenge to be able to scout out all locations, or have locals for each city to be able to provide logistical support. 

GoRuck, close and coming to Honolulu in September.

https://www.goruck.com/constellation/

https://www.goruck.com/event-12971/#

You'd have to pay me to ruck outside of work.  Its miserable,  at least the way we do it in the army.

I'm interested in the goruck.  However I'd be wary of a requirement where I'd have to sponsor an unknown person on base.