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What to pack: A guide for a sustainable visit to Hawai‘i
August 05, 2021
If you’re visiting the islands soon, or know someone who is, we encourage you to check out and share “Visiting Hawai‘i? Pack these essentials to protect island ecosystems,” a resource we created to inform guests prior to their arrival about proper reef-friendly sun protection and waste minimization.
VISITING HAWAI‘I? PACK THESE ESSENTIALS TO PROTECT ISLAND ECOSYSTEMSHere’s a helpful list of what to bring to enjoy a sustainable, eco-friendly stay in Hawai‘i✔ REEF-FRIENDLY CLOTHINGHats, sunglasses, rash guards, board shorts, wraps, leggings, and other light clothing will keep your skin safe and reduce the amount of chemicals entering our ecosystems. The best way to protect yourself from the sun and protect Hawai‘i’s environment is to cover up.✔ MINERAL-BASED SUNSCREENIt’s important to know that not all sunscreen products that claim to be eco-, ocean-, or reef-friendly or -safe actually are! The only way to be sure is to review the active ingredients. Mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as the only active ingredient(s) are the only sunscreens you should bring to and use in Hawai‘i. Any other active ingredients can be harmful to coral health and reproduction, and possibly even your own. Whether you’re at the beach, going for a hike, or just cruising around town, remember to “Think Zinc” (or Titanium).✔ REUSABLE CONTAINERS AND UTENSILSPlease bring reusable beverage containers, shopping bags, and eating utensils on your trip. Bonus points if you bring reusable straws! Help us keep single-use plastics out of our landfills and from entering our land and ocean environments, where they can harm wildlife.✔ PLASTIC-FREE TOILETRIESIf you haven’t tried dry or bar shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste tablets, bamboo toothbrushes, and other sustainably produced and packaged health and beauty products, consider packing some before your trip and trying something new! This helps reduce the demand for products in petroleum-based packaging provided by hotels and resorts and keeps them out of our landfills.DID YOU KNOW?- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the only two active sunscreen ingredients that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers safe and effective? And scientific evidence indicates that oxybenzone and other petrochemical-based ingredients can be absorbed into the bloodstream and may have negative impacts on human health?
- Most retailers in Hawai‘i are prohibited from distributing single-use plastic shopping bags and non-recyclable paper bags? And petroleum-based take-out food containers and eating utensils are banned on some islands? O‘ahu | Hawai‘i Island | Maui, Molokai, Lāna‘i | Kaua‘i
- On some islands, there are no recycling programs for plastics (other than HI-5 beverage containers)? Learn what’s recyclable on each island and where.
- Hawai‘i has the highest rate of cesspool use in the country? What goes down the drain or the toilet could end up in our soils and waterways. This is a big reason why protective clothing and mineral-based sunscreens are recommended over petrochemical-based health and beauty products, even if you don’t plan on swimming or snorkeling.
https://kohalacenter.org/kbec/what-to-pack
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