As much as we love swimming along Maui’s pristine coastal shores, dazzling big waves, and throughout the colorful coral ecosystems, we also have to love keeping our Maui waters safe.
To protect our oceans, Hawaii became the first state to ban sunscreen that contains oxybenzone and octinoxate. Both of these chemicals are harsh and damaging to the coral reef that sustains the ocean life in our backyard. We know our corals to be suffering due to stress and the bleaching effects that these chemicals leave so we knew it was time to take actionable steps. Without our reefs, Maui would not be what it is today.
January 1, 2021, will mark a new age for tourism and life on Maui! People who come to visit our island will still be able to enjoy all that that Maui’s ocean has to offer, but hopefully with a less negative impact on its ecosystem by using only reef safe products. Locals are already making the switch to less toxic and more organic ways of protecting themselves in the sun. Whether you are planning on hitting the beach soon or are interested in taking a more organic approach to what you put on your body, we have compiled a list of reef safe sunscreen brands that you can start swapping in!
These ocean safe sunscreen brands are all made right here in Hawai’i. Support local while you keep our oceans safe.
Click here for more information on the bill and Hawaii's plan to put this in effect.
