Paintball Magazine Paintball.Media Magazine September 2019 | Page 119

Fred just happened to stop by the field for
Hawaiian Legend II, because paintball in
Hawaii is a family affair and he wanted the
four boys that he had with him to preview the
game of paintball and what it had to offer.
Being that Fred helps these kids on his own
accord they did not necessarily have the
funds to give all the kids an opportunity to
play but they were hooked, and more than
willing to watch the onslaught. Through a
big heart, these kids were offered a chance
to partake in some paintball, fully covered by
Honu and CPX. You never really understand
or know the warrior that lives inside you until
the opportunity comes knocking, these kids
took this opportunity and exploded with it.
Once given permission by their guardian,
Fred, Honu got these kids geared up,
loaded and ready to roll, but since they were
not expecting to play they were only in tank
tops, shorts and slippahs (flip flops). These
boys had no need to dress-to- impress, they
played in their slippahs and they impressed
in their slippahs. These boys impressed their
Blue Commander, Ryan Sexton, so much that
he awarded them each with the Young Gun
award. These young men may have had their
troubles in the past but what grew from this
one opportunity will have an impact for the
rest of their lives. They grew a new level of
respect inside their minds, respect for safety
and respect for the game, “Their behavior
changed, and their respect for the sport is
on point. Loving it. They even helped me
with the yard yesterday. Mind blowing day.
Big change in their life.” reported Fred.
They also learned that there are people and
communities out there that do not care what
you look like or what you are wearing, just
as long as you are out there shooting and
having fun. GI Sports stepped up and gave
these boys some jerseys they had available
and Team COBRA is going to be starting
a fundraiser to provide the SSA with some
gear so they may continue to embrace this
sport, this community and everything it
has to offer. If you are planning on leading
Hawaiian Legend 3, your first call should be
to recruit the Silent Slippah Assassins.
Day two was a day for climbing mountains,
not a volcano, but an uphill battle for points
for the Red team. The Red warriors did not
rest Saturday night with thoughts of scuba
diving or luaus, no they dreamt of claiming
what was theirs, of taking the field back and
avenging day one. As the start of day two
tore through the air they stormed the field
like a possessed hoard. David O’Dell took
his army straight through the Blue team
and they fought for every point they could.
They took the high ground, they took the
low ground, and they took the water. Great
commanders learn, they adapt and they
overcome obstacles any way they can and
that is exactly what the Red team did, they
did not take day one as a loss, they fought
on. Games that have such a big score gap
tend to start to develop a bad vibe. Players
get frustrated, they get angry and they can
start playing angry. This is not an atmosphere
you will find at Maui Paintball. There was the
occasional overshooting, there always is, and
there was the occasional bunkering but the
sportsmanship was what won the day. Maui
Paintball, Hawaiian paintball is a family affair.
Players, refs, photographers and field staff are
not the only people that attend games. It is
not unheard of for entire families and groups
of friends to come to the field to support their
players/teams or to enjoy a reunion of sorts.
This feeling is spread to the field as well,
the origin has yet to be discovered whether
it be the ocean air or the seemingly worry-
free attitude amongst islanders, but good
vibes were the only vibes felt at Hawaiian
Legend II. Even though players were being
occasionally bunkered or very occasionally
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