A new law went into effect yesterday on Maui. And a somewhat less stringent one is coming to the Big Island.
123 thoughts on “Should Maui Visitors Be Subject To $1,000 Fine For This?”
Comments are closed.
A new law went into effect yesterday on Maui. And a somewhat less stringent one is coming to the Big Island.
Comments are closed.
I understand banning sunscreen products, but to go so far as making it a fine was ridiculous in my book
Banning chemical sun screens is such a good decision. Thank you.
Sorry but you obviously don’t live in a an area where the only sunscreens that are effective are the chemical ones. We never use a chemical sunscreen when visiting Hawaii but at home, in the Skin Cancer Capital of the USA, we only use chemical sunscreens.
During our last trip to Maui I noticed that a lot of snorkelers were wearing sun protective shirts. I’ve read that a lot of these shirts are chemically treated with some dangerous ingredients. Could this be part of the problem as well?
Yes anything toxic to our food supply should always be a fine by companies trying to lie to consumers about safe for the environment BS.
Good for you.i lived in Hawaii
For around 20 years.it should have started back then.we don’t live in Hawaii anymore(sad for us)but we still have film their so go for it you have my vote.
I read this article yesterday and the thing that really stuck out was that there has been no education of visitors about these changes. I was in the Lahaina Safeway today and the man in front of me was complaining that he couldn’t buy sunscreen and if he got skin cancer it was on Hawaii. I let him know that he could not buy chemicals sunscreens but that mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide are freely available. I then went next-door to Longs and saw a full display of mineral sunscreens and bought a bottle since I have visitors coming this week who may not be aware of these changes. I hope no one gets fined until there is much more education about I need to move away from chemical sunscreens. As always, thanks for this article!
Hi Kevin.
Thanks. Education is a big part and we didn’t see anything about that being mentioned thus far by the county.
Aloha.
Hi I was just curious do you have a list of the preferred sunscreens to use in the islands thank you
Hi Cheryl.
We’re mentioned this earlier. There are easily 100 brands of sunscreens. A good place to start might be here: https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/.
Aloha.
Disappointed, EWG is a 501 (3) (C), non-profit, California and Minnesota based, who could be just another body of subjective guidelines predicated on mandated Diversity and Equity, that has no reality in the real world. Why does one have to go to the end to find out who this innocuous Brand is ‘Environmental Working Group’ is an activist group, pushing an agenda that has in it’s ranking #’s I.e. ‘5’ contradictory information the reader cannot deciminate (sharonmahan.com). Why no Reef Safe Category?
And guess what – you have to sign up for the website in order to see the list – or at least that was my experience just now. And “Reef Safe” apparently isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. We’re devoted to Blue Lizard after 3 dermatologists in 3 practices recommended it after I got a melanoma using Sun Bum (long story). Most Blue Lizard is labelled “Reef Safe” but only a few of their products have nothing more than Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (sorry, too lazy to look up the correct names). Those we use in Hawaii, the others we use at home.
Mahalo for your article.
Hawaii is not Disneyland.
Not an amusement park.
The fascination and love of natural beauty should be motivation enough to get educated and respect the aina.
Removing the products at the source is always the best way.
Education of the public will take a lot of effort on the part of the tourism industry, retail and DLNR.
Fines, yes when other efforts are exhausted.
Aloha
Yes.
We visited Kauai last July. Our first stop was Costco, and one of our first purchases was sunscreen. We had purposefully waited to buy in Hawaii to make sure we got reef safe sunscreen. To our surprise, they had only one reef safe brand and when we asked why, we were told Costco didn’t want to force us to buy a certain type against our wishes. We were shocked because we figured only reef safe would be sold in Hawaii! We bought the one reef safe brand. It should be all anyone in the state sells!
Mahalo for your coverage.
Amen, if Stores in the State are selling Brands that damage Coral Reefs, they are part of the problem, not the cure, and the Retailer knowingly profiting off the possibly unknowing Tourist is guilty. The State has a responsibility if they are going to create such Laws to Police them against any and all. Ignorance of the Law, may not be an excuse, however, it would certainly look more favorably on the Tourist who purchased locally, then the Merchant who both ignored the Law and profited knowing they were working against State Law!
Is there somewhere that I can find a list of acceptable sunscreens ? I will be visiting in February.
I don’t know if BofH will publish this but we’re devoted to Blue Lizard after 3 dermatologists in 3 practices recommended it after I got a melanoma using Sun Bum (long story). Most Blue Lizard is labelled “Reef Safe” but only a few of their products have nothing more than Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (sorry, too lazy to look up the correct names). Those we use in Hawaii, the others we use at home. You can get it on line (look for the sales) or at some Walmarts. A bit pricey (just like all the other “specialty sunscreens) but it goes a long way.
I’m all for it. The hard part is getting the word out and letting everyone know. Then who’s going to enforce this law and how?
I’ll come up with a small test strip you apply to the body, if it turns Red $$$$
Recently, this past spring, my husband and I visited Maui. I brought only reef safe sunscreen. The first day, after multiple applications and taking refuge under a tree for most of the day I became very sunburned. Much more sunscreen and as little suntime as possible for the next 9 days and I left the island red as a lobster. I found out, especially since I only had limited time in the water, I should use regular sunscreen when not in the water. I really need a good sunscreen. I’m willing to forgo the water in order to protect my skin!
I’ve mentioned a few times that we only use the (truly) chemical free sunscreens when in Hawaii. Otherwise, living in the “Skin Cancer Capital of the US”, we have to use chemical sunscreens.
First, let me say that I 1000% agree with protecting the reefs – Hawaiian or otherwise – from the chemicals in sunscreen. But I respectfully ask that those encouraging all chemical sunscreens to be eliminated from manufacture. Please understand that in certain circumstances (high altitude, dry climate), those chemicals help protect those of us who live in those circumstances better than pure “mineral” sunscreens. As I’ve said repeatedly in this thread – use what you need to survive in your home environment but just be careful what you use in Hawaii or other ocean-side situations. We use “mineral-based” at home and strictly “mineral” when in the islands. When just about everyone you know has had at least one melanoma, you need to be careful.
My husband and I love being able to visit Maui. We are very much in favor of the chemical based sunscreen ban. We believe we are stewards of our world and we should all do our part to keep our stewardship healthy and thriving. We appreciate being able to visit and experience the aloha and hope we are able to return the aloha.
Thanks for the updates on the islands that we love.
Thank you Nancy, I believe you get it. We are all in this together. Every last one of us. No one is excluded or exempt.
It’s to everyone’s better interest that we all work together to protect and cherish what remains of our beautiful gift. Not only Hawaii but our planet.
I’m very proud to live in Maui and support all meaningful efforts to protect the beauty and Aloha that is Hawaii.
This is so dumb. I mean… Who is going to enforce this? The Sunscreen Police? This would never hold up in court if challenged anyway. And who is to say for sure if these sunscreens actually have Any measurable effect on anything in Hawaii? Think about all of the Other pollutants that go into the waters around Hawaii Every day. There is no possible way to somehow isolate those pollutants from the miniscule amount of sunscreens of any kind that end up in Hawaiian waters. But it doesn’t surprise me. Of All the problems that Maui has–This is what they are focusing their collective energies on? What a joke.
Mahalo Beat of Hawaii for asking the questions we all want asked!
As a resident, I think $1000 is excessive, unless we’re actually trying to kill tourism.
Our reefs are being damaged by several things, especially uninformed divers and snorkeling. I’ve seen so many people, visitors and residents, standing on the reefs, breaking off coral and not being informed to stop.
All this is taking a toll on our ecosystem.
Those people should be fined that $1000 dollars!
I think all incoming visitors should watch a video or sign documents letting them know how to behave in our fragile environment, but somehow common sense can’t be common anymore.
Stay safe and blessed
Aloha always 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks for your input on this subject too. Best regards!
Aloha.
Thanks for the info. We go to Maui soon.
As a frequent visitor to the Big Island,I Love it! We tried so hard here on Key West. Our reef is so precious to us. We passed a ban only to have political powers in Tallahassee repeal it. They either don’t get it or they don’t care. So sad.
Good
I support all efforts to take care of Hawaii’s natural environment.
Here’s the link to the list again:
hawaii.com/travel-info/reef-safe-sunscreen/