Ready or not, Hawaii’s school year gets underway in early August. Fully qualified teachers, however, are not in ready supply. In response to this perennial problem, the state is launching “Grow Our Own,” a promising initiative through which subs, educational assistants and emergency hires already working in classrooms can secure a stipend to help cover University of Hawaii costs tied to earning a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate in secondary education.

On the first day of school last August, more than 500 vacancies statewide had been filled with either non-credentialed instructors working toward a teaching degree or substitute teachers. Here’s hoping this effort, which requires participants to teach in Hawaii public schools for at least three years, greatly expands the certified lineup.

A legal mess for Hawaii island’s Aina Le‘a

If “‘aina” means land, and “le‘a” means joy, then The Villages of Aina Le‘a should be a pretty happy place, right?

In fact, things seem pretty rocky for the financially struggling Hawaii island enterprise. Developers of what’s envisioned as a $1 billion residential community have filed for bankruptcy. Creditors are seeking to repossess part of the 1,011-acre site.

Aina Le‘a Inc. officials, also seeking damages from the state over a decision to rescind land use approvals, said they hope to restructure debts and be back in business. All in all, it looks like a big mess.