MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- It's not often in the game of chess you have a 10-second warning or an umpire sounding "game on! game on!" But not many people consider paintball a game of chess.
"Paintball expands to all age groups, it's diverse. You don't need to be 6 foot and all muscle; all you need is to think. It is a game of chess, you use your mind," said Roland Manahan, the command senior chief for Combat Service Support Group 3, company chief for 21st Dental Co., and field manager of Paintball Hawaii aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. "Before you make a move in paintball, you need to look at the other players on the field and communicate with your teammates to capture the objective...in this case the flag."
Manahan, along with a five-man group of other paintball players including civilians, Marines, Navy and Air Force, are part of the MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay paintball team, the Volcanoes, who are sponsored by the Single Marine and Sailor Program. The Volcanoes are at this moment preparing to compete in the "Best of the West" Paintball Tournament in Maui, Aug. 9 and 10.
"Paintball takes dedication, anyone could come out here and play and anybody can be good," said Manahan. "It's not over powering, there are no boundaries in paintball, it's not about strength."
Paintball, according to Joshua Whann, an avid paintball competitor, Volcano team member and the military justice chief at Base Legal aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, has been around for about 20 years. The game was started by lumberjacks who used the markers (guns) to mark trees and ranchers who used them to mark cattle.
"These guys somehow decided it would be more fun to go after each other," said Whann. "It ended up becoming paintball."
The players at first used pumps on the markers to fire the paint. Meaning they had to pump their marker once, then fire, then pump again. "It was a slow process, but it got the job done," said Whann.
As technology expanded, the game evolved, and the markers became semi-automatic.
The game split off into two separate forms of the game.
"There are guys who play in the woods, and wear camouflage, playing scenario games that involve planning, missions and commanders," said Whann. "Then there is speed ball, or hyper ball, which is what we play and offer here at Paintball Hawaii."
Speed Ball is played on a small course, usually about 120 by 100 yards. The objective of the game is to acquire the center flag and bring it to the opponents' station.
"What you have to realize is that there are five to seven people coming at you to stop you, it is not that easy," said Whann. "You need the help of your teammates to get by the opposing team."
According to Whann, paintballs can sting and they do have the ability to do permanent injury, but that is why the safety regulations are there.
At Paintball Hawaii the safety regulations are simple:
* Anywhere near firing, you must wear a mask.
* There is no firing in the staging area
* The markers must be regulated to 285 feet per second for adults and 225 feet per second for children.
* A barrel sock - a barrel blocking device -must be used in between games in case of accidental discharge.
Paintball Hawaii is open on Fridays by appointment only, usually for unit play. They are open to anyone, including walk-ons, Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sundays 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
There are three fields available for play, the Wood field, the Tire field and the Lego field. It is the players choice which fields to play.
According to Manahan, complete rental and all day play is $25, which includes a CT2000 marker, a mask, goggles and the first airfield.
All day air is $10, and Paintball Hawaii offers either Co2 or compressed air, depending on what the player prefers. Players also have the choice of bringing their own paintballs or purchasing them at the field. Prices vary depending on type.
A group rate is offered for more than five people, which gives each player $5 off the rental of equipment. Unit functions and birthday parties are welcome.
For more information, contact Paintball Hawaii at 265-4283, or go to its web site www.Paintball Hawaii.com.
"This is our golf," said Manahan. "You don't have to be military to enjoy it, it's open to all."