Hawaii's building industry group is pushing job training and recruiting more women into construction — good news for people looking to break into the trades.

• The Building Industry Association of Hawaii runs a free six-week pre-apprenticeship program that is mostly hands-on work.
• Trainees come out with OSHA, HVAC, and CPR certifications, enough to start in the trades.
• Sessions just wrapped on Oahu, and the next one is coming to Hilo.
• Hawaii ranks second in the country for women in construction, behind Alaska, and the group's women's council is trying to push that higher.
• The association also lobbies for the industry and runs education and networking for contractors, suppliers, architects, and developers.

Outlook: More training rounds are planned across the islands, with sign-ups open through biahawaii.org.