Woven by Community.

Driven by the Game.

OUR MISSION

 

Bridging the Gap for Hawaii’s Keiki

At the Aloha State Hockey Foundation, we believe that geographic isolation and rising costs should never be a barrier to athletic opportunity.

For youth hockey players in Hawaii, pursuing the sport at a competitive level comes with a unique challenge: the "Geographic Tax." Because our nearest opponents are 2,500 miles away, the combined cost of travel, registration fees, and specialized uniforms often sidelines talented athletes before they even get to the rink.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to offsetting these hurdles through:

  • Travel Subsidies: Reducing the financial burden of mainland and inter-island competition.

  • Registration Assistance: Ensuring league fees don't keep a player off the roster.

  • Uniform Support: Providing the essential gear that allows every player to take the rink with pride.

The Lauhala Project: Woven by Community

Our approach is inspired by the Hawaiian tradition of Lauhala—the art of weaving individual leaves into a single, unbreakable structure.

  • Our Board: A "woven" team of professionals in compliance, branding, and healthcare ensuring every dollar is managed with integrity.

  • Our Support: Every purchase from our Artist Series apparel directly funds our mission, creating a self-sustaining loop of support for our players.

  • Our Goal: To ensure that Hawaii’s "Island Built" talent has a fair shot at the national stage.

Whether you are a donor, a parent, or a fan of the game, you are a vital strand in this foundation. Together, we are building a bridge for the next generation of Hawaii hockey.

Woven by community. Driven by the game.

     

    OUR VISION

     

    To see Hawaii recognized as a vibrant and thriving hub for youth hockey, where every aspiring athlete, regardless of their financial background, has the opportunity to pursue competitive excellence and represent our islands with pride and sportsmanship. We envision a future where Hawaii's youth hockey players are not only skilled competitors but also exemplary citizens and lifelong ambassadors for the game.

       

      OUR PHILOSOPHY

       

      We believe that participation in competitive youth hockey offers invaluable life lessons beyond the rink. Our philosophy is built on the following pillars:

      • Inclusivity and Access: We are dedicated to ensuring that the sport of hockey is accessible to all Hawaii's youth. We believe that passion and talent, not economic circumstances, should determine an athlete's ability to participate in high-level competition.
      • Character Development: We view hockey as a powerful vehicle for building strong character. Through the demands of competitive play and travel, we aim to foster resilience, discipline, teamwork, respect, and integrity in our young athletes.
      • Empowerment Through Opportunity: By providing financial support for travel and tournament play, we empower dedicated athletes to test their skills against diverse competition, gain invaluable experience, and reach their personal best. We believe these experiences are crucial for their growth both within the sport and in life.
      • Community and Aloha Spirit: We strive to cultivate a supportive and positive community around Hawaii youth hockey. We encourage athletes, families, and supporters to embody the aloha spirit, fostering camaraderie, mutual respect, and a shared passion for the game, whether at home or competing abroad.

       

      OUR LEADERSHIP

       

      The Woven Board

      A diverse team of professionals dedicated to integrity, impact, and the game.

      In the spirit of the Lauhala Project, we have assembled a board of directors that brings together specialized expertise to ensure our mission is sustainable and transparent.

       

      Executive Leadership (The Founders)

      • Roy Lezada | Executive Director & Founder

        Roy is the strategic architect of the Aloha State Hockey Foundation, bringing over 15 years of experience as a Project Management Professional (PMP) in the healthcare and IT sectors to the nonprofit landscape. By applying the same rigorous oversight and data-driven strategy used in complex technical systems, Roy ensures the foundation operates with the professional integrity required to solve the "geographic tax" facing Hawaii’s youth athletes.

        Roy serves as the creative catalyst for the foundation’s unique aesthetic and social enterprise model. As the inaugural featured artist for the Artist Series, he bridges the gap between culture and competition, designing the foundational "Lauhala" and "Electric Hawaii" collections. His work ensures that every piece of apparel serves a dual purpose: honoring the spirit of the islands while generating the sustainable revenue needed to fund travel subsidies and registration fees.

        Beyond his role in governance and design, Roy is a dedicated player and coach who sees the game through the eyes of a parent. Whether he is on the rink coaching his daughters, Aria and Evelyn, or managing the foundation’s long-term roadmap, Roy is driven by a singular goal: ensuring that Hawaii’s "Island Built" talent has a clear, supported path to the national stage.

      • Mandy Lezada | Director of Operations & Co-Founder

        Mandy is the operational heart of the Aloha State Hockey Foundation, ensuring that the mission to support Hawaii’s youth athletes is backed by seamless execution and a commitment to quality. With a background rooted in community leadership and professional education, Mandy manages the complex logistics and administrative frameworks that allow the foundation to bridge the gap for island families.

        Mandy brings a unique perspective to the foundation as a former martial arts instructor and seasoned competitor. Having navigated the rigorous world of high-level competition on the mainland, she is intimately familiar with the intense financial and logistical complexities required to compete on the national stage. This "competitive empathy" drives her dedication to ensuring that registration fees and travel costs never stand in the way of a dedicated athlete’s potential.

        Beyond overseeing the foundation’s daily operations, Mandy coordinates the production and fulfillment of the Artist Series apparel, ensuring that 100% of proceeds are maximized to fund travel subsidies and uniform grants. Whether she is advocating for her daughters, Aria and Evelyn, or practicing Hula, Mandy’s work is a testament to the power of community, competition, and culture.

        Board of Directors (The Strategic Guardrails)

      • (Coming Soon)