Hawaii's construction industry is pushing hard to train new workers, which is good news for young people looking for well-paid jobs without college debt.

• The Building Industry Association of Hawaii is running six-week pre-apprenticeship construction courses, with the next one starting in mid-October on Oʻahu.
• Training is mostly hands-on, and graduates leave with safety certificates that let them start work or join a union apprenticeship right away.
• Classes stay small, about 15 people, so trainees get real attention and learn to work as a team.
• Builders cannot find enough skilled workers, a shortage going back decades because families pushed kids toward college instead of the trades.
• Trade jobs pay well and are harder for AI to replace, with some workers out-earning college graduates within a few years.

Outlook: Six more courses are planned next year across Oʻahu, Maui, and the Big Island, as Hawaii tries to grow the workforce it needs to build more housing.