Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association

Hawaii Girls Take to the Lacrosse Field

She runs, she shoots, she scores!

With its thrilling fast pace and high scoring, lacrosse is attracting the young wahine (women) of Hawaii in a big way. The sport is now the fastest growing girls’ high school sport in the United States. Girls find lacrosse is a great game for fast team play, camaraderie and exciting action. Girls’ lacrosse games typically have scores of 10 to 15 goals per team, which make for a very fast paced, action-packed experience for players and fans alike. The girls of Aloha Youth Lacrosse learn the game from coaches who have played and coached at top college programs including Maryland, Washington and Pennsylvania. Importantly, girls who play lacrosse in high school can look to future opportunities, as the sport continues to grow at the college level with Title IX programs. Per capita, in comparison to other college sports, there are significantly greater scholarship opportunities for female lacrosse players. Hawaii is already represented at several college programs.

Boys’ High School Lacrosse Grows on Oahu

Six HS Teams "Bring the Heat" from Across the Island

Oahu high school lacrosse fans will be treated to a great 2008 season, with top high school teams "bringing the heat" this season in a 10 game schedule.  Playing venues include great fields at Central Oahu Regional Park and Kapiolani Park.  If you spend a 3-game Sunday watching these guys, you'll see blazing speed, wicked moves, hot shooting and some big hits.  The six team division is loaded with returning players and seasoned coaches, including:

• Kapolei A: Coach John Keogh
• Kapolei B: Coach Ryan Keogh
• Mililani: Coach Scott Stewart
• Windward: Coach Barry Wood
• Punahou: Coach Emory Mitchem
• Iolani/Mid-Pac: Coach Tom Durso

Hawaii players from the High School Boys division will also be playing lacrosse this summer at some of the top camps on the mainland, including Notre Dame, Navy, Army, Georgetown, and Holy Cross.

SCHOOLS NOW HAVE LACROSSE CLUB

Hawaii schools are adding Lacrosse as a new club activity

Across Oahu, schools are adding Lacrosse as a club activity. Current schools sponsoring Lacrosse Club in high school and middle school include: Kapolei, Mililani, Mid-Pacific Institute, Iolani School and Punahou. All it takes to get started is a willing faculty or staff person to serve as a Club Advisor, permission from the Administration for classroom and field space, and get together some students. Lacrosse Clubs range from just 8-10 members to some clubs with over 50 members. It helps to have an Advisor with some knowledge of Lacrosse, but that's not essential. Most school Lacrosse Clubs are assisted by experience parents or alumni that are Lacrosse coaches or players. Gear is also not essential, as most Clubs can use AYLA clinic sticks, goggles, goals, and balls provided by the Club Coach. Full gear workouts are not part of the on-campus club experience, as that is reserved for AYLA sanctioned practices. Check it out! Call or email AYLA if you need help getting started!

Aloha Youth Lacrosse:
2008 Marks Five Years in Hawaii

Lacrosse popularity explodes across the US -- even in Hawaii!!

Lacrosse in Hawaii?? Hawaii is far from the northeast US, where lacrosse originated as a Native American sport, but there couldn’t be a better place for lacrosse than a place with great year-round weather and thousands of skilled young athletes.  Youth lacrosse in Hawaii has grown 25% a year since 2003, and is now hosting over 300 players in boys’ and girls’ divisions from 7 year old through high school.  The sport has literally taken off with Hawaii's kids, mostly because they find its fast action makes it fun to play. Lacrosse is now being played at school clubs and fields across Oahu, including Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Mililani, Kailua, and Honolulu/Waikiki.  The trend is upward, and the excitement is growing!