Ohau Open

So way back in February of 2009, shortly after I knew we were going to have a pro team in the NPPL, I came to the realization that I was going to need to pull a pallet full of cash out of my ass if we planned on being competitive in the Pro Division. I made the decision to pack a bag and make my way down to Hotlanta for the Paintball Extravaganza. This seemed like a great opportunity to rub elbows and gain face time with the who’s who of the paintball industry in hopes of gaining some industry support for Mutiny.

I hit up my man Heavy D, most of you would know him as the larger than life hustler extraordinaire at all of the events across the country buying, selling and trading guns for his company Heavy D Trading. He was headed to ATL too. So naturally we linked up and the road trip was on and popping.

We showed up in the evening and were told there was some suite party going on at another hotel promoting a tournament in Hawaii. A suite party about a tournament in Hawaii! There was no way I wasn’t getting in the mix.

Sure enough two guys by the name of Sonny Lopez and Phil Adler were there filling everyone in on this incredible event concept that they had schemed up and were promoting. I knew Mutiny would be attending the second I heard about a tournament in Hawaii. The rest was history.

Now fast forward 7 months to September, and you’ll find Tholey, Shane and myself all maxin and relaxin ocean side in Waikiki Beach. Wow what a beautiful place.

The Ohau Open was way more than just one single paintball tournament. It was actually a series of several different events. There was a Military Simulation Target Shoot, sponsored by Tiberius Arms, along with a 3 man tournament and 5 man tournament with both pump and semi-auto divisions.

We decided that since we had each flown thousands and thousands of miles to Hawaii to play the tournament that we were going to play every event but the pump stuff.

Talking over the best Mahi Mahi I’ve ever had and multiple beers a few nights before the event started, Tholey and I were scheming on how sweet it would be to come in and sweep all of the events. That then became the goal for the event – a clean sweep.

Sure enough the Mil Sim Challenge comes around and the competition is looking mean between super low times posted by Derrick Obatake of Steel Flame and Red Hastings. Some how some way the youngster of our clique, Shane Childers, comes out swinging and ends up winning the whole thing. We were off to a good start.

The next event was the 5 man. Since at the time we were probably the poorest team in paintball, there was only three of us that ended up making it out to the event. This meant for us to play and win the 5 man we were going to have to make some last minute pick-ups on the spot. We ended up picking up a super talented local Hawaii kid named Tyler Hanlin along with LJ from Dynasty. These were nice additions to the team for sure.

The 5 man event was on a military base. Unfortunately for us, we drove to the wrong military base on the other side of the island. This put us in a position where we were then squashing on the gas pedal through the jungle book scenery in order to make it to the 5 man before it started. Luckily we showed up with about 40 minutes to get on the field.

The competition was 100% composed of local Hawaii teams. This gave us a significant advantage due to the caliber of talent we had on our roster. Still though, the 5 man would prove to be anything but a cake walk. I believe we ended up going undefeated in the prelims, but when the Finals came around to play for 1st and 2nd the heat was turned up significantly. We came out and lost our first game of a best of three to a local team called Hawaii Exodus. This was a local team packed full of young and hungry stunners who were ready to take us down in their backyard. We answered back the second game winning 5 alive in about 2 minutes quietly reminding them that the event wasn’t quite over just yet. The third game went our way as well, and before we knew it we were 2 events deep in 1st place.

The event closed on Sunday with a 3 man tournament. We showed up with a squad of just Mutiny players for this one. The competition was once again all local teams, and once again they showed up to fight. We ended up losing several games in the prelims. This in turn lead to Tholey, Shane and myself bickering back and forth at one another in the pits like a bunch of sisters. However, our success prevailed and we ended up taking home 1st place in the 3 man event as well.

As it turns out, we clean swept all of the events and hit the goal we set over seafood and brew a few nights earlier. It all worked out great, and Shane and Tholey ended up leaving the island with some ridiculously gangster jewelry provided by Derrick’s company Steel Flame along with an incredible trophy.

I however made the executive decision that I was going to blow off my flight and hang around in paradise for a few extra days. I’m so glad that I did.

Monday night Sonny took us all to a surf shop in Waikiki called House of Flys. They were a sponsor of the event, and it’s a ridiculous surf shop with all kinds of unique and special gear including a whole wall full of Black Flys shades.

I spent an entire day roaming through Waikiki in search of the perfect pair of sunglasses to bring home with me. I looked and looked and looked and couldn’t find them. Sure enough, within 3 minutes of walking into the House of Flys I had found what I had scoured the island for – clean boi shades that stopped me in my tracks.

It turns out a cat by the name of Simon owns this secret stash of the freshest gear in Hawaii. Sonny and him are friends, and they had planned a special barbecue for everyone that stuck around for a few extra days. Simon and Sonny took everyone back to Simon’s house for the party that night. But, before they started cooking they took us all down to literally the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to in my life. It was a salt water pool built into the rocky coast that was filled and drained from the waves of the ocean crashing into it. It was absolutely unreal. We drank beer and took pictures oceanside in the pool until it got dark, and then it was onto the party back at the house. It was an insane time.

I have to give a major thanks out to Sonny and Phil for putting on a very well run series of events in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in my life. It was the first paintball tournament I’ve ever been to where it actually really felt like you were on vacation. Also, big thanks to Simon of House of Flys for such premier treatment.

If you didn’t make it out to the 2009 Ohau Open you missed out HUGE! I highly recommend that if you want to go have an unreal paintball/travel experience that you get involved in 2010. This thing is sure to continue gaining momentum in the years to come.