Protecting Hawaii’s Coral Reefs

Hawaii’s ban on sunscreens containing reef-damaging chemicals to take effect in 2021

Hawaii’s ban on sunscreens containing reef-damaging chemicals to take effect in 2021.

June 1 2019 was the first World Reef Day — a call to action for all of us to consider the effects of our actions on our oceans and reefs.   The delicate ecosystem of our ocean’s coral reefs that are dying around the world. In recent years, there has been a major decline of our world’s reefs (40 percent in Hawaii and the Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, 85 percent in the Caribbean and 99 percent in the Florida Keys).

“The reef destruction that has happened up until now has truly been done localized and regional anthropogenic factors.” – Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. “Industrial pollution, plastic pollution, sewage, chemical sunscreens and unmanaged high-density tourism all threaten coral reefs.”

Three simple things we can do to protect these precious resources are:

1. Use reef-safe sunscreens

2. Reduce single-use plastics

3. Spread the message

This has been caused by humans, and we can fix it.

Reef -Safe Sunscreen Helpful Hints

• Use sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide and apply only to your neck, face, feet and back of hands. Cover up the rest of yourself with a hat and long-sleeved rashguard or other beachwear.
• In addition to avoiding oxybenzone and octinoxate, watch out for homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone—there is concern that these are also bad for people and ocean animals.
• If the list of chemicals is long and hard to pronounce—avoid it!
• Aerosol spray sunscreens are harmful if breathed in, end up on everything and everyone else, and one way or another enter the ocean.
• Even if you don’t get in the ocean with your sunscreen on, it gets there via the shower, as all drains flow into the sea

Paradise in Hawaii Luxury Homes – Plastic Reduction Program

At Paradise in Hawaii Luxury Homes we are fully committed to helping reduce usage of plastics.  We eliminated the need for 20,000 small hotel size plastic bottles of small bottles of shampoo, shower gel and conditioner per year. We are now using reusable, refillable bottles to provide the same high-end Float product.

Float, by William Roam is a subtle, refined shampoo formulated with certified Hawaiian Deep Sea Water sourced from 3,000 feet below the surface of the ocean in Kona, Hawaii.   Incredibly pure with high levels of vitamins and minerals and free from all impurities, Hawaiian Deep Sea Water is the cornerstone ingredient in the FLOAT shampoo, gel and conditioner.

Our Aquamenities shower dispenser is installed in our of homes.