Raise Your Hand

Across the globe, countries have acted to address the crisis of cellphone use in schools. From school districts in California to nations such as South Korea, many school systems recognize the harm that unchecked screen use poses to student engagement and learning. In contrast, Hawaiʻi doesn't have a consistent statewide phone policy.

When people talk about the dangers of artificial intelligence, many imagine their jobs and decisions taken fromthem by machines. But the more immediate danger looks very different — that we are instead willingly surrendering to AI. The danger of artificial intelligence is not that machines may become conscious, but that people may gradually surrender skills that require independence, patience, soul and critical thinking.

For decades, the concept of patriarchy has defined our social and political discourse, framing the

world as one where men inherently hold the advantage and women are systemically disadvantaged. This narrative, which has played a powerful role in achieving gender equity, remains deeply entrenched in public consciousness.

Amid the relative quietness of Hawaii’s political landscape, the most consequential election of this year is one over 5,000 miles away: the New York City mayoral race. It’s a three-man race among Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is running as an independent.

Sept. 10 marked a devastating day for our nation. An unparalleled American leader was

tragically and unjustly murdered for speaking his beliefs. A father, husband, mentor, leader and

Christian — Charlie Kirk embodied all these roles and more. His death deeply impacted not only

his family and supporters, but countless others, who drew encouragement from him. Even in his

passing, Charlie’s life continues to serve as an inspiring example that we can all learn from.

When I first stepped into Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae, a village of more than 250 houseless

individuals near the Waiʻanae Boat Harbor, I expected to see hardship. What I didn’t expect was

to find community, leadership, and above all, family.

How many times have you picked up your phone today? If you’re like most people, the answer is

roughly 96 times, or once every 10 minutes. For teenagers, the numbers are even more alarming.

Teens spend over seven hours on their phone per day on average, according to Common Sense

Media.

We all have something we just don’t get. Maybe it’s car maintenance or writing a decent

essay. Whatever it is, it often becomes an unnecessary source of shame. For many senior

citizens, that “thing” is technology. While this might seem like a harmless or inevitable

generational gap, the reality is more serious: Our kupuna are falling behind because they don’t

have the support they need to keep up in an increasingly digital world.

In an age of unprecedented access to technology and resources, we like to believe that support is just a click or call away. Countless hotline numbers, shelters, community centers, and mental health or emergency services help those who have fallen victim to the devastating experience of human trafficking. These resources are vital lifelines for many, pulling people from the grasp of a horrible situation. But the truth is, the most impactful support doesn’t come from institutions. Instead, it comes from the people closest to us — our friends, family and loved ones.

For many, the aloha spirit has been reduced to a brand. It’s something to be sold and
marketed to visitors who want to “live aloha” for a week before flying home. Others say
that modern distractions have left people too exhausted to show up for one another like
they used to. Generosity becomes difficult when you’re working long hours and barely
scraping by. With Hawaii’s high cost of living, continued housing crisis, and economic
uncertainty, people are stretched thin — and when your plate is already full, there’s little
room to consider the needs of others.