Bullying can turn a kid’s whole world upside down. It can happen at school, on a bus, or through a phone screen at midnight.
If you live in Hawaii, you’re probably wondering what the law actually says about this. Let’s break it down together. No confusing legal talk, promise.
What Is Bullying Under Hawaii Law?
Hawaii defines bullying as any written, verbal, graphic, or physical act. It has to hurt, harm, humiliate, or scare a student. And it has to happen often enough, or be serious enough, to create a threatening school environment.
Sound complicated? It’s actually not. Basically, if one student keeps hurting or scaring another student on purpose, that’s bullying.
Cyberbullying counts too. That means bullying through texts, social media, apps, or any electronic device. Hawaii’s rules cover both.
Here’s the thing though. Hawaii doesn’t have one giant “bullying law” like some states do. Instead, the rules are spread across a few different places. There’s a criminal harassment law. There are Department of Education rules for schools. And there’s a section about reporting incidents. Stay with me, we’ll go through each one.
Basic Bullying Laws in Hawaii
The Harassment Statute
The main criminal law that covers bullying-type behavior is Hawaii Revised Statutes section 711-1106. This is called the harassment law. Nearly all states have statutes prohibiting this kind of conduct, and Hawaii’s law is written to be broad enough to cover many types of annoying or harmful communication.
This law covers things like insulting or taunting someone in a way that could cause a violent reaction. It also covers offensive touching, like shoving or striking someone.
Wondering if a mean text message counts? In 2012, lawmakers signed House Bill 2295 into law. It added harassment done through electronic means to this same statute. So yes, digital harassment can fall under this law too.
There’s also a related law called harassment by stalking, found in section 711-1106.5. This one deals with repeated, unwanted contact or pursuit that makes someone feel scared or annoyed. Think of it like the harassment law’s more serious cousin.
School Rules for Bullying
Hawaii’s Department of Education has its own administrative rules too. These live in Hawaii Administrative Rules, chapter 8-19. They define bullying and cyberbullying for school purposes. They also spell out what counts as prohibited student conduct.
Not sure what counts as a violation at school? The rules cover things like physical bullying, verbal bullying, and cyberbullying. They also cover bullying based on someone’s race, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation.
Honestly, this next part surprises a lot of people. Hawaii’s school cyberbullying rules can even reach off-campus behavior. Hawaii anti-bullying laws cover cyberbullying acts committed through an off-campus computer network if the act is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student or school personnel.
So that group chat drama from over the weekend? If it’s bad enough, it can still count as a school issue on Monday.
Reporting Requirements and What Schools Must Do
Here’s where things get serious. Hawaii Revised Statutes section 302A-1002 requires schools to report certain crime-related incidents, including bullying.
Teachers and school staff who know or have reason to believe bullying happened must report it. This applies whether it happened on school property, during school hours, or during a school-supervised activity.
Schools also must publish their rules. They need to tell students, staff, and parents what conduct is prohibited. That’s the law, plain and simple.
But here’s a pattern interrupt worth noting. Hawaii’s law is actually one of the more minimal ones in the country. Hawaii anti-bullying laws do not require districts to implement bullying prevention programs or strategies, and they do not require districts to train teachers and other school staff on how to prevent or respond to bullying incidents.
Personally, I think that gap is worth paying attention to. Some lawmakers have pushed bills in recent sessions to require annual staff training and stronger district policies. As of 2026, those broader requirements are not yet locked into state law, so it’s smart to check your own school district’s specific policy too.
Penalties and Consequences
So what actually happens if someone breaks these rules? Let’s talk about the penalties.
Under school discipline rules, bullying is treated as a serious offense category. It can lead to detention, suspension, or in more extreme or repeated cases, expulsion. It really depends on how severe the behavior was and whether it kept happening.
Some sources note that when a school-age child engages in bullying or cyberbullying, both the child and their parent or legal guardian can face a fine. That fine has historically been capped at $100 per separate offense under certain administrative provisions. Think of it like a small fine for each incident, not one giant one-time penalty.
Now, if the behavior crosses into criminal harassment under section 711-1106, the consequences get bigger. Harassment is generally treated as a petty misdemeanor in Hawaii. That can mean fines and, in some cases, up to 30 days in jail. It’s less severe than a felony, but still no joke.
Harassment by stalking under section 711-1106.5 is often charged more seriously, since it involves a repeated pattern of scary or unwanted behavior. The exact penalty depends on the specific facts of the case.
Special Circumstances
Not all bullying situations look the same, and the law recognizes that.
If bullying targets someone because of their race, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation, it may also count as discrimination. Schools that receive federal funding must address this under federal civil rights law, on top of state rules. So you might be dealing with two layers of protection at once.
Off-campus cyberbullying is another special case. Remember earlier when we talked about that off-campus computer network rule? It only applies when the behavior is severe, persistent, or creates a genuinely threatening school environment. A single awkward comment online probably won’t meet that bar. A sustained campaign of harassment probably will.
You’re not alone if this feels a little blurry. Even experts admit that defining exactly where “normal kid conflict” ends and “bullying” begins isn’t always easy. That’s part of why documentation matters so much, which we’ll get to next.
How to Report Bullying in Hawaii
Okay, this part is important. If your child is being bullied, here’s what you should actually do.
First, write everything down. Dates, times, what was said or done, and who was involved. This documentation matters a lot if the situation escalates.
Next, report it to the school directly. Contact the teacher, counselor, or principal. Schools are required to have a process for handling these reports, so use it.
If the school doesn’t respond appropriately, you can escalate things. Contact the Hawaii State Department of Education directly, or reach out to the school’s complex area superintendent.
For cyberbullying, save screenshots. Text messages, social media posts, and app messages can all serve as evidence. Don’t delete anything, even if it’s upsetting to look at.
If the bullying involves threats of violence, physical harm, or repeated scary contact, you can also file a police report. Criminal harassment and stalking laws exist for exactly this kind of situation.
Trust me, this works better than staying quiet. Most people don’t realize how much a paper trail helps when things need to go further.
What If the Bullying Involves a Civil Rights Issue?
If bullying is connected to someone’s race, disability, religion, sex, or another protected characteristic, you have another option. You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Schools receiving federal money are required to respond to this kind of discrimination.
This is a separate process from a regular school bullying complaint. It’s worth knowing about, especially if your school isn’t taking action fast enough on its own.
Final Thoughts
Bullying laws in Hawaii cover more ground than people expect, but they’re honestly still catching up compared to some other states. The harassment statute, school administrative rules, and reporting requirements work together, even without one single unified bullying law.
Most people don’t realize how many layers are actually involved here. Now you know the basics. Document everything, report it early, and don’t be afraid to escalate if the school doesn’t act. Stay informed, stay safe, and when in doubt, look it up or ask a lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bullying a crime in Hawaii?
Bullying itself isn’t always a standalone crime, but related behavior like harassment or stalking can be charged criminally under Hawaii Revised Statutes sections 711-1106 and 711-1106.5.
Does Hawaii law cover cyberbullying?
Yes. Both the criminal harassment statute and the Department of Education’s administrative rules specifically address cyberbullying, including off-campus incidents in some cases.
Can a parent be fined for their child’s bullying?
Under certain administrative provisions, both the child and a parent or legal guardian can face a fine of up to $100 per separate offense for school-age bullying or cyberbullying.
What should I do if my child’s school ignores a bullying report?
Document everything, then escalate to the complex area superintendent or the Hawaii State Department of Education. If it involves discrimination, you can also file a federal civil rights complaint.
Does Hawaii require schools to have anti-bullying training programs?
No. As of 2026, Hawaii does not require districts to run prevention programs or train staff on bullying response, though individual schools may still choose to do so.
References
- Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 711-1106, Harassment: https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-37/chapter-711/section-711-1106/
- Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 711-1106.5, Harassment by Stalking: https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/title-37/chapter-711/section-711-1106-5/
- StopBullying.gov, Hawaii Anti-Bullying Laws and Policies: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws/hawaii
- National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, Hawaii School Discipline Laws on Bullying: https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/discipline-compendium?state=Hawaii&sub_category=Bullying,+Harassment,+or+Hazing
- Hawaii State Legislature, House Bill 2295 (2012): http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/GM1295_.PDF
