Pearl City boasts one of best air riflery facilities — built by students

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Aranaydo instructs senior Coby Thornton on his technique. Thornton was one of the students who helped build the range. Photos by Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kacey Kikuchi (no relation) remembers when a wandering bird accidently got shot.

Both are fourth-year members of the Pearl City High School air riflery teams. Despite the popularity of the relatively new sport at the school, it was not until last year that the Chargers had a site they could really call home.

"This is more convenient," Steve Kikuchi said.

Last year, the Chargers used their permanent riflery range for the first time. With 24 points, or shooting stalls, it is the largest range in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association. But what makes it special is the range was designed and built by the school's building and construction class, taught by Lester Aranaydo, who also coaches the rifle teams.

With $10,000 from the federal-sponsored Carl Perkins Fund, Aranaydo's students were able to apply classroom work to hands-on experience. Construction began in November 2000 and was completed by June 2001. Former students now in the industry also helped. Local businesses donated some materials or provided them at a discount, Aranaydo said.

Some of Aranaydo's students helping in the project also were air riflery members. The only holdover from that group is senior Coby Thornton.

"After helping build it, it's kind of cool to get to use it," Thornton said.

Before last year, the range had to be put up each time for practice. Temporary targets, which could not be bolted down to the ground, would fall with a strong gust. Birds occasionally wandered through the area.

But Pearl City's range is considered the best in the state. Instead of shooting on grass, which was sometimes uneven, the shooters fire from a covered structure with a concrete base.

Although the primary purpose of the range is for air riflery, Aranaydo said the structure is officially called a "multi-purpose activity center" because physical education classes use the area for outdoor lectures.

Actually, it is fitting that Pearl City has the largest range. Since the sport's inception in the OIA in 1995, the Chargers have nearly always fielded teams with the most participants. With 53 — 26 girls and 27 boys — Pearl City leads the OIA again, sport coordinator Eddie Maruyama said.

Pearl City High School air riflery coach Lester Aranaydo rounded up help from students, volunteers and outside donations to help construct one of the state's top air riflery ranges.

Aranaydo said students who turn out for the teams are curious or just want to participate in a school activity. He added that the sport allows students who might not be as skilled in other school-sponsored sports.

"It's a sport, but not really a sport," Steve Kikuchi said. "It's not physical. It's just fun."

Still, Kikuchi is good at the sport. He was third in the OIA individual championships and sixth in the state tournament last year. Even though he doesn't have to run or get physical with an opponent, air riflery still has something in common with other sports: Concentration.

"A lot of it is mental," Steve Kikuchi said. "If you have the wrong frame of mind, you'll do bad."

Steve Kikuchi said he joined the team out of curiosity. Kacey Kikuchi joined at the urging of a friend. But her experience with guns started before she got into air riflery.

"At home, I've shot BB guns and paintball guns," she said.

But air riflery isn't her only sport. After the season, she joins the wrestling team, also coached by Aranaydo. In the spring, she is into judo. She likes the relaxed nature of air riflery.

"In wrestling you have to watch your weight," she said.

Aranaydo, who co-coaches the rifle teams with his wife Shareen, said air riflery is a gender-equal sport.

"Some girls are better than the guys," he said. "It involves good discipline and focusing, not letting other things bother you, controlling your body movement, breathing, holding the rifle steady and keeping sight on the bull (target rings)."