Hawaii and
Image courtesy of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program


Why the quotation marks on "Reef Safe"? There are no regulations on the term “reef safe”! While oxybenzone and octinoxate are identified in Hawaii's new law, other sunscreen ingredients can be carcinogens, hormone disruptors, nano-particles, allergens, preservatives and skin irritants that also negatively impact people, aquatic and marine life.

Before you purchase that "Reef Safe" sunscreen, turn the bottle around and check if it contains other harmful chemicals as identified by the Safe Sunscreen Council and Ban Toxic Sunscreens (avoid): oxybenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, avobenzone, dimethicone, parabens, BHT, nanoparticles, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrances, retinyl palmitate, cocamide dea, phenoxyethanol.

If you plan to spend time in the ocean, look for a sunscreen with broad spectrum protection from minerals such as non-nano zinc oxide (or titanium dioxide) in a natural base. Zinc and titanium are white minerals that tend to leave a grey cast on skin, so some brands use nano-sized particles to minimize the discoloration. Those microscopic minerals can be absorbed by and harm coral and marine life.

So if you'll be spending time in the ocean, look for key words like "non-nano" or "reef friendly" on the label of your mineral SPF. Here are some you can look for:

Hawaii and
Safe Sunscreen Guide Infographic from www.bantoxicsunscreens.com. Check out their website before your trip as they update their info regularly.


What else can we do to avoid sunburn AND travel responsibly to Hawaii?

Follow the Skin Cancer Foundation recommendations and "follow a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade and covering up with clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use. Clothing is the most effective form of sun protection, and swim shirts, rash guards and wet suits offer great protection during water activities, especially in intense UV environments like Hawaii. Look for clothing and hats labeled with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating of 30 or higher to ensure effective protection."

Choose cream or stick formulations rather than aerosol spray cans. While the latter is faster and easier to apply, the other aerosolized chemical ingredients can travel 100s of yards in the breeze, into our lungs (you know if you’ve ever smelled it in the air!), onto sand where keiki (kids) play and honu (turtles) beach at night, and are also washed out into the ocean with each high tide where they can kill juvenile corals as they spawn.

In addition each aerosol can is only enough for a few applications (think of the landfill waste) and the spray rinses off more quickly into the ocean so you’re more likely to sunburn. Non-nano mineral sunscreens if applied correctly "stick" on longer and is overall safer for people and the environment.

Hawaii and
Wear a long sleeve rash guard to minimize the amount of sunscreen you need to wear, and apply a non-nano mineral sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going in the ocean.


More manufacturers are producing non-nano mineral sunscreens in a natural base that are truly "Reef Safe". Mahalo for taking the time to read and your kokua (help) in caring for the aina (land) and kai (sea) and wondrous marine life! We hope you're ready to enjoy your trip to Hawaii and explore our beautiful beaches and oceans!


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Hawaii and "Reef Safe" Sunscreens
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Want to learn more?

Hawaii SB2571 Act describing the reasons the state is prohibiting the sale of oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens.

SB2571
SECTION 1.The legislature finds that two chemicals contained in many sunscreens, oxybenzone and octinoxate, have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii's marine environment and residing ecosystems, including coral reefs that protect Hawaii's shoreline.Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause mortality in developing coral; increase coral bleaching that indicates extreme stress, even at temperatures below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit; and cause genetic damage to coral and other marine organisms. These chemicals have also been shown to degrade corals' resiliency and ability to adjust to climate change factors and inhibit recruitment of new corals.



The Safe Sunscreen Council is a coalition of companies working to raise public awareness
about the impact sunscreen ingredients may have on people and planet. Their website includes links to research and lay articles on the science, safety and efficacy of sunscreen ingredients.



NOAA's website for their Coral Reef Conservation Program

Hawaii and "Reef Safe" Sunscreens
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) Home Page
NOAA's Office for Coastal Management announces its intention to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for its Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP). Publication of the Federal Register Notice begins the official scoping period that will help identify issues and alternatives to be considered in the PEIS.



Ban Toxic Sunscreens is a social movement to educate and advocate responsible enjoyment of the sun and oceans. The website posts and updates a Safe Sunscreen Guide (sunscreens that meet the more stringent "Avoid" list of chemicals), to make your search for a truly reef-safe sunscreen easier.

Social Movement to Educate & Advocate

Hawaii and "Reef Safe" Sunscreens
Ban Toxic Sunscreens
Sunscreens are an important part of your sun protection program. The problem is many sunscreen ingredients include carcinogens, hormone disruptors, nano-particles, allergens, harsh preservatives and skin irritants. These can negatively impact people, aquatic and marine life. Sunscreens protect your skin by absorbing and/or reflecting UVA and UVB rays.


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