Effective Date: First Day of Instruction (August 5, 2026)
Authority: Hawaiʻi Board of Education (BOE) Policy 301-11 & Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 19
Based directly on community feedback, we know families want their children to have access to personal devices for safety and commute coordination. To honor this request while eliminating digital distractions in the classroom, Pāhoa High & Intermediate will be utilizing the Yondr Bag System. This allows students to keep physical possession of their devices all day long inside a locked, secure pouch.
Our Cultural Foundation: Reclaiming the School Day
Removing the constant barrage of digital notifications allows our campus to restore classroom focus and nourish core values:
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Pono (Integrity): Fostering honesty and ensuring academic success is built on genuine effort rather than digital shortcuts.
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Mālama (Care): Protecting our haumāna's mental health and well-being by providing a relief break from continuous social media pressure.
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Pilina (Relationships): Encouraging face-to-face social connections in hallways, lunchrooms, and classrooms.
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Kuleana (Responsibility): Empowering students to manage personal technology maturely while respecting the school community.
How the Yondr System Works Daily
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Arrival (Pouching): Upon entering campus, students turn off or silence their cell phones and smartwatches (placing devices in Airplane Mode is recommended to save battery). Under staff supervision, students place their devices inside their assigned Yondr pouch and lock it.
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Instructional Time (Custody): Students keep their locked Yondr pouches inside their personal backpacks throughout the entire school day. This applies across all hours, including class time, passing periods, and lunch for both Intermediate and High School students.
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Dismissal (Unlocking): At the final dismissal bell, students tap their Yondr pouches against magnetic "Unlocking Stations" positioned near campus exit gates to release their devices.
Liability Disclaimer: Personal communication devices are not required for education. HIDOE and Pāhoa High & Intermediate School assume no liability or responsibility for loss, theft, or physical damage to personal devices brought to campus or placed inside Yondr infrastructure.
Family Connectivity & Emergency Protocols
Safety is our top priority. During an emergency, cell phones can create dangerous distractions or interfere with safety directions. We maintain standard protocols to ensure parents and students remain connected when necessary:
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In the Event of a Family Emergency: Please do not call or text your child’s phone directly, as it will be locked and silenced inside their pouch. Call our Main Office immediately at (808) 313-4300. Office staff will locate your child and deliver your message right away.
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If Your Child Needs to Contact You: Students can request an office pass from their teacher. In the office, an administrator will unlock the pouch for a supervised call, or the student may use the school landline.
Approved Policy Exceptions
Exceptions to pouching requirements are coordinated through administration for:
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Medical Needs: Physician-documented medical tracking (e.g., blood sugar tracking apps; specialized Velcro pouches are issued).
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IEP/504 Accommodations: Official accommodations structured within a student's legal educational plan.
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Safety Crises: Immediate physical safety threats where administrative channels are unreachable.
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Instructional Use: Specific curricular tasks expressly permitted by a teacher.
Accountability & Discipline Policy
To maintain fairness and safety, Pāhoa High & Intermediate enforces clear disciplinary frameworks.
Standard Infractions (Visible, Unpouched, or Ringing Devices)
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Tier 1: Verbal warning and immediate classroom-level correction.
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Tier 2: Device confiscated to the Main Office; parent notified; student retrieves device at end of day.
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Tier 3: Device confiscated to the Main Office; mandatory parent/guardian physical pickup required; administrative meeting to set a restriction plan.
Subversion & Circumvention (Zero-Tolerance)
Attempts to bypass the system—such as handing in an old or "decoy" phone while keeping an active phone unpouched, forcing locks, or damaging Yondr pouches—will not receive standard warnings. These actions are handled directly under HAR Chapter 19 guidelines as Class B or Class C Offenses (Defiance of Authority, Contraband, or Property Damage). Consequences include formal behavioral contracts, mandatory restitution fees for damaged pouches, loss of privileges, or school suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What if a student forgets their Yondr pouch?
The student must check their phone into the Main Office upon arrival for secure storage until the end of the school day.
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Does this apply to High School students during lunch?
Yes. To maintain a consistent environment of engagement, the phone-free policy applies throughout all blocks, passing periods, and lunch.
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What happens in a emergency evacuation or lockdown?
Students are safest when focusing entirely on staff directions. Once students are in a designated safe location, staff can use handheld magnets to unlock pouches for family communication.
Mahalo for partnering with us to build a safe, focused, and deeply connected environment for our haumāna! For questions or additional details, please contact the Main Office at (808) 313-4300 or visit our school website.