The State's New Phone Policy

The Hawaii State Board of Education (BOE) implemented a new statewide policy set to take place for the 2026-27 school year, setting requirements for how public schools manage students’ cell phones. This was developed after multiple rounds of statewide surveys and stakeholder inputs regarding the effects technology (cell phones) has on student learning and wellbeing.

The BOE set forth phone restrictions based on grade levels. Elementary and middle school students are prohibited from using their phones throughout the entire school day, and high schoolers aren't allowed to use their phones during instruction time. For High School, the BOE states, “Schools may exercise discretion regarding use outside of instructional time, including before and after school, and during designated breaks, recess, lunch and free periods.”

Exceptions include emergencies or threats to safety, authorized use for instruction, health purposes such as one required by a licensed physicist, and when a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) includes phone usage. 

After hearing about this new policy, many students voiced their opposition to this change.

“I think it's kind of stupid” junior Jaylee Vierra says. “I'm someone who goes on her phone, and I still manage to do my work perfectly fine.”

Senior Kamahao Frias-Kaauamo believes students should be able to use phones because it helps them be more productive. “For me personally,” he said, “listening to music from my phone helps me do my work and get it done faster. You don’t always know what people are going through, and at certain points, music really helps me.” 

“I use my phone a lot for school, including interviews (for the school newspaper Ka Lama) and a calculator because I don’t have one, and some teachers don’t provide it,” said freshman Brielle Ramelb who has written for Ka Lama in the past. Ramelb is not sure about whether the policy is necessarily good or bad, as she says she’s heard other teachers talk about this:  “they told me the good sides, like how our grades will improve and things like that.” 

Teachers suggest it will not only create a benefit regarding student habits, but also social life. Mari Finn, technology coordinator thinks “it would be a positive for their mental well-being because now they can talk to others instead of texting things, and they don’t cheat on assignments or tests. They are forced to interact socially instead of staying isolated with their cell phones.” 

Micah Kawaguchi-Ailetcher, an art teacher, had a unique perspective, citing scientific evidence that points to studies about how cellphones heighten dopamine levels, which is one reason why students are constantly on it.

“It’s addictive in nature,” said Kawaguchi-Ailetcher. “You habitually and continuously get dopamine hits and want to come back to it. If that’s the premise, then if you deprive that during class periods, the 30-minute lunch period is going to predominantly become cell phone use.”

This is written about by Keyla Jimenez who found that 47% of Lahainaluna students are unable to stay focused in classes, particularly due to the dopamine of being on your phone watching social media or other entertainment. 

“It makes students want to pull out their phone more,” said sophomore Edgar Ortiz. Ortiz shared an example where other schools have phone boxes “and people come up with a way to keep their phone or take their phone out. So I feel like that can, like, sort of happen like where students find a way to, like, go past the policy. So I don't think it would work.”

“I mean, there's obviously going to be people that don't follow the policy,” mentioned sophomore Kai Guzman. Even so, he thinks “it's fair because you still have the ability to go on your phone. It prevents people from not paying attention.” 

Finn also thinks the policy could lead to a positive change in habits. “I think we rely on our devices way too much, and that students not being able to use them in the classroom will hopefully help them become more well-rounded learners and people, not just keyboard warriors.”

“With how teaching is right now these days, I feel like we kind of do need our phones in class,” said junior Wesly Hallems who thinks there’s no problem with cellphones but with how teachers are teaching.

Vierra explains “I think people will find other ways to not pay attention, 'cause I don't think it's necessarily the phone. I think it's just a problem of the curriculum, like if students really care enough to pay attention. And I think phones are just a way for them to just not.”