LJ Bates III, Executive Director
By unanimous vote of the Board of Directors and Management team, LJ Bates III, became the Executive Director of Kalani Honua in October 2012.
Now in his 11th year in Hawaii, LJ has always been in service to the Hawaii Island non-profit community in various roles: Executive Director, VASH Hawaiʻi Island, Vice President / Executive Director of the Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA / Kona Family YMCA, Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Hawaiʻi Island HIV/AIDS Foundation, and as a member of the Rotary Club of Kona and Pahoa Sunset.
LJ grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts, just North of Boston, and became a part of the Beverly Regional YMCA, beginning a lifelong relationship with the YMCA. LJ then went on to attend Springfield College – the school founded by the YMCA to train Professional Directors – where he chartered the first Student-run YMCA on the campus and the largest, free tutorial program in Massachusetts. Through an awarded scholarship and funded internship, LJ moved to New York City to work with the YMCA of Greater New York (the largest YMCA in the world) as the Corporate Teen Program Director; creating and supervising Teen Programs for 19 inner-city YMCAs.
YMCA programming that was designed under LJ’s tenure now serves more than 300,000 young people each year in New York City. LJ has taught YMCA staff and volunteers throughout the Nation on behalf of the YMCA of the USA and has replicated his programs throughout the States.
After leaving the YMCA to diversify his experiences, LJ served various nonprofit and for profit organizations through his own consulting business while pursuing his MBA from Baruch College; performing fund development, strategic planning, board development and operations management for several NYC-based non-profits.
Before coming to Hawaii, after almost two decades in New York City, LJ was just finishing up a two-year-long Management role with the oldest for-profit health & wellness chain in New York City, the New York Health & Racquet Clubs. LJ led the teams of both the oldest facility as well as the newest flagship operation. Both locations achieved top profitability under his leadership.
LJ assumes the role of Executive Director from Richard Koob, who has transitioned into retirement and now serves as a Consultant.
