Hawaii Bicycling League

What Hawaii Bicycling League does

Hawai'i Bicycling League (HBL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 and headquartered in Honolulu, Hawai'i. It operates as the oldest and largest cycling organization in the state, delivering programs across three mission pillars: cycling advocacy, education, and events. Core programmatic offerings include BikeEd Hawai'i (a 4th-grade bicycle safety curriculum reaching approximately 8,000 O'ahu students annually and over 100,000 students since the program began in 1989), the Golden Gears Triking Program (free recumbent tricycle rides for adults and kūpuna/seniors on car-free multi-use paths), and a portfolio of signature cycling events headlined by the 42nd-annual Honolulu Century Ride, which draws nearly 2,000 participants and serves as HBL's largest annual fundraiser. Additional programs include the Hale'iwa Metric Century, the Ride Aloha Festival, Bike Month, E-bike Education addressing new HB2021 legislation, adult Workshops & Presentations, the newly launched Re:Cycle bike-reuse partnership with Re-use Hawai'i, and Bike Valet services.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of grants from government agencies and private foundations, event registration fees, individual donations, recurring memberships, and branded merchandise sales. During its 2025 50th-anniversary year, HBL exceeded a $500,000 fundraising goal by raising $511,250 in new gifts, pledges, and grants; individual donors alone contributed approximately $150,000 in fiscal year July 2025–June 2026. HBL operates a lean core staff of roughly 15 people—led by Executive Director Travis Counsell—and extends its island-wide reach through formal chapters including Maui Bicycling League, HBL Dirt, and Maui Mountain Bike Coalition, which became a chapter on July 1, 2026. HBL does not operate proprietary technology beyond standard nonprofit infrastructure (RedPodium for event registration, NeonMail for email marketing, and a CRM for community engagement) and has no AI/ML capabilities.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led: it acquires and retains constituents through volunteer participation, group rides, signature events, school-based BikeEd delivery, legislative advocacy at the state and city level, and recurring member benefits such as voting rights for board elections. Member-elected governance, a multi-island chapter structure, and deep institutional relationships with the Hawai'i State Legislature, City and County of Honolulu, and the Hawaii Department of Transportation form the operational backbone of HBL's mission delivery.

Name

Hawaii Bicycling League

Legal name

Hawai'i Bicycling League

Website

https://hbl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hawai'i Bicycling League is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 that advances cycling through advocacy, education, and events across Hawai'i, serving youth, seniors, and the broader cycling community via programs like BikeEd Hawai'i and the Honolulu Century Ride.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cycling Advocacy and Education

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bicycle Programs & Bike Share (Parking, Repair, Rentals) (EDALAKAE), Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)

Keywords

• Cycling advocacy
• Nonprofit education programs
• Cycling events
• Youth bike safety
• Community cycling

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants: HBL receives grants from government agencies and foundations to fund programs including BikeEd Hawai'i and advocacy efforts. The organization receives funding through City and State partnerships for youth bicycle education.
2. Event Proceeds: Signature events including the Honolulu Century Ride, Hale'iwa Metric Century, and other cycling events generate revenue through participant registration fees. The Honolulu Century Ride is described as HBL's largest fundraiser.
3. Donations and Memberships: Individual donor contributions and membership fees support HBL's operations. The organization exceeded its $500,000 fundraising goal for its 50th anniversary, raising $511,250 in gifts, pledges, and grants. Individual donors provided nearly $150,000 in the most recent fiscal year.
4. Merchandise Sales: HBL sells branded merchandise including cycling jerseys, t-shirts, aloha shirts, musette bags, and water bottles through its online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hawai'i Bicycling League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes bicycling across Hawai'i through three interconnected mission areas: youth bicycle safety education (BikeEd Hawai'i program reaching nearly 8,000 O'ahu 4th graders annually, with 100,000+ students taught since 1989), community cycling programs (Golden Gears senior recumbent trike rides, Re:Cycle bike reuse partnership with Re-use Hawai'i, adult workshops), and signature fundraising cycling events including the Honolulu Century Ride, Hale'iwa Metric Century, Ride Aloha Festival, and Bike Month. The organization also conducts policy advocacy for safer cycling infrastructure and legislation.

Product overview

Hawaii Bicycling League (HBL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates as a single unified mission-focused entity rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization delivers cycling advocacy, education, and events through distinct programs including BikeEd Hawai'i (youth education), Golden Gears Triking Program (senior recreation), E-bike Education, adult Workshops & Presentations, and signature Events (Honolulu Century Ride, Hale'iwa Metric Century, Ride Aloha Festival, Bike Month). These programs are interconnected components of HBL's mission to enable more people to bicycle for health, recreation, and transportation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BikeEd Hawai'i: Youth bicycle education program teaching safety to 4th graders across O'ahu since 1989
• Golden Gears – Trike Rides
• Honolulu Century Ride
• Hale'iwa Metric Century
• Ride Aloha Festival
• Spoke'n'Word

Products and services

• BikeEd Hawai'i A youth bicycle education program that teaches bike safety to 4th graders across O'ahu schools, including classroom presentations, on-bike drills, and street riding under supervision. Has taught over 100,000 students since 1989.
• Golden Gears Triking Program Free recumbent tricycle rides for kūpuna (seniors) and adults, providing low-impact exercise, balance improvement, and social connection on O'ahu's car-free multi-use paths. Each ride includes the trike, helmet, orientation, fitting, and instructor-led instruction.
• Honolulu Century Ride Hawai'i's largest cycling event featuring routes of 25, 50, 75, or 100 miles along the Kaiwi Coast, Waimānalo, and windward coast. HBL's largest annual fundraiser supporting advocacy and education efforts.
• Hale'iwa Metric Century Annual cycling event on O'ahu's North Shore with distance options of 30km, 50km, 80km, and 100km.
• Ride Aloha Festival A weekend festival of cycling events culminating in the Honolulu Century Ride, including packet pickup, welcome parties, and group rides.
• E-bike Education Education program covering new Hawai'i legislation (HB2021) regarding e-bikes and electric micromobility devices, including age restrictions, helmet requirements, and where devices can be ridden.
• Workshops & Presentations Adult education workshops teaching bicycle handling, road laws, and cycling confidence, delivered by League Cycling Instructors.
• Bike Month National Bike Month celebrations in May featuring free bike classes, community rides, and various cycling events across O'ahu.
• Re:Cycle Program Bike recycling and reuse program in partnership with Re-use Hawaii, giving used bikes a second chance to ride aloha.
• Bike Valet Services Free bike valet service provided at community events, offering secure bike parking and encouraging cycling to events.
• HBL Membership Annual membership program supporting HBL's advocacy, education, and events. Members receive voting rights for board elections, access to rides and events, and newsletter subscriptions.

Quantifiable outcome

• BikeEd Hawai'i teaches nearly 8,000 O'ahu 4th graders annually in bicycle safety
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maui Mountain Bike CoalitioncoreOthers · 1 July 2026Starting July 1, 2026, Maui Mountain Bike Coalition (MMBC) became a formal Chapter of HBL. MMBC has been dedicated to creating mountain biking opportunities and trails on Maui.
• Maui Bicycling LeaguecoreOthersMaui Bicycling League is a formal chapter of HBL, extending HBL's reach to Maui island for cycling advocacy, education, and events.
• HBL DirtcoreOthersHBL Dirt is an HBL chapter focused on off-road cycling and mountain biking activities across Hawai'i.
• Re-use Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Re:Cycle Program launch, where HBL collaborates with Re-use Hawai'i to give used bikes a second chance and promote bike reuse in the community. Formal launch event held July 11th.
• League of American BicyclistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBL works with the League of American Bicyclists for League Cycling Instructor (LCI) certification. HBL's Director of Education Malia Harunaga is one of only 17 League of American Bicyclists Coaches nationwide and one of 18 Coaches across the nation.
• Tradewind Cycling TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the O'ahu Hill Climb Challenge (OHCC) 2026 with sponsorship from HIDrate Electrolytes. Tradewind Cycling Team is a USA Cycling licensed road racing team.
• HIDrate ElectrolytesminorOthersSponsor of the OHCC 2026 event with promotional code HIDRATECYCLING for free shipping on online orders.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PeopleForBikes: National cycling advocacy and industry coalition that merged with IMBA. Comparable to HBL as an advocacy/education entity, but operates at national scale with industry funding rather than being a member-driven state league.
• League of American Bicyclists: The national umbrella organization for bicycling in the U.S. HBL is an affiliated state-level league that sends staff to LAB's National Bike Summit and uses LAB's League Cycling Instructor certification—directly comparable as a state/city cycling advocacy peer within the same federated network.

Direct peers

• Maui Bicycling League: Maui island chapter of HBL. Functions as the island-level equivalent of HBL's O'ahu operations, providing advocacy, education, and event programming; an embedded peer within HBL's own chapter network.
• Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA): D.C.-region cycling advocacy and education nonprofit. Comparable to HBL in delivering adult classes, youth programs, advocacy, and signature rides within a defined metropolitan region under one nonprofit umbrella.
• Cascade Bicycle Club: One of the largest U.S. regional cycling nonprofits, based in the Seattle/Puget Sound area. Operates signature rides, youth education (Let's Go), advocacy, and a membership model that closely parallels HBL's programming structure across advocacy, education, and events.
• New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA): Regional mountain biking advocacy nonprofit. Directly comparable to HBL given that HBL's Executive Director Travis Counsell previously led NEMBA; similar structure of chapter-based advocacy, trail work, and education events.
• San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: Bay Area cycling advocacy, education, and events nonprofit. Mirrors HBL's integrated mission (advocacy + education + community rides) with strong municipal-government relationships and a member-driven funding model.
• Bike New York: New York City-based cycling nonprofit that runs the Five Boro Bike Tour (a century-scale signature ride), youth education programs, and advocacy. Closely matches HBL's event-plus-education-plus-advocacy model and is a strong comparable on scale and program mix.
• Bike Easy (Louisiana): Statewide Louisiana bicycling advocacy nonprofit delivering education, advocacy, and community rides. Comparable to HBL as a state-level league organization with a similar mix of programming and limited staff.

Others

• Re-use Hawai'i: Hawai'i-based nonprofit that diverts usable items from landfill; HBL partnered with Re-use Hawai'i to launch the Re:Cycle bike-redistribution program in 2026, making it a direct operational/ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HBLRideAloha
• Instagraminstagram.com/HBLRideAloha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-bicycling-league

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Bicycling League