In Hawaii, state agencies and foundations are poised to support readiness efforts to improve educational outcomes for children. Developing a shared understanding of the construct of readiness is key to these efforts. The purposes of this research were to (a) discover the perceptions and beliefs held by Hawaii parents, teachers and administrators affiliated with four- and five-year-olds about children ready for school and schools ready for children, and (b) to compare these views with other research reported in the literature. Data were gathered from 24 focus group interviews and 2604 returned surveys. Both similarities and differences emerged among the role groups regarding the most valued aspects of readiness. These data are reported and discussed. This research provided a foundation for the development of a statewide definition of readiness, and for systems-level assessment tools that reflect the beliefs and values of Hawaii's early childhood community. (Contains 11 tables.)