High school students in the islands reported lower rates of bullying and drug abuse than peers on the mainland, but fell behind them in other health measures.

Hawaiʻi teens were less likely to be depressed, smoke marijuana and use e-cigarettes than their peers nationally, according to the results of a biennial survey that tracks teen health trends.

But they were also less likely to use sunscreen, attend a physical education class or regularly eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

Roughly 17% of teens in the islands reported drinking, down from more than 37% in 2009. More than 22% of teens nationally reported that they'd had at least one drink in the month before filling out the anonymous survey.

The number of Hawaiʻi teens who said they used sunscreen has actually increased in recent years, but it's still dramatically lower than the national average. Only 1 in 5 high schoolers in the state said they used sunscreen in 2023 -- a figure that plummets to roughly 1 in 10 for boys. By comparison, more than 80% of teens nationally reported slathering up in 2019.

Fewer than 10% of Hawaiʻi teens attended a daily physical education class in 2023, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey results released late last year. Nationally about 27% of students exercise daily at school.

Hawaiʻi teens fared better than their peers on numerous mental health-related measures though. Just over 15% of high school students said they had experienced bullying in 2023, compared to 19% of teens nationally. The number of Hawaiʻi teens reporting suicidal thoughts -- a nearly identical percentage as those experiencing bullying -- was similarly below the national average.