The Best Ways to Protect Your Skin from the Maui Sun
Planning to visit Maui and worried about a nasty sunburn that could ruin your entire vacation? Look no further — we got you covered (pun intended)! Read on to learn how to safely protect your skin from Maui's hot and sunny weather.
Trilogy Excursions is Maui’s oldest luxury catamaran co. offering premier snorkeling and sailing boat charters from Maui to Lanai since 1973. This is our seventh and newest boat that offers beach front pick-up in Ka’anapali.
Step #1: Before packing your toiletries, check your sunscreen and product labels for ingredients that can harm the health of our reefs, marine life, and streams. Don't know what to look for? Keep reading.
"Reef safe" sunscreen is a type of sun protection that is formulated to be safe for coral reefs and marine life. It does not contain harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have been found to contribute to coral bleaching and damage.
When choosing a reef safe sunscreen, look for products that are labeled as "reef safe" or "coral safe". Additionally, you can check the ingredients list to ensure that it does not contain oxybenzone or octinoxate. Using reef safe sunscreen is an important way that YOU can contribute to protecting our oceans and marine life.
We provide Raw Elements dispensers on all of our sailing snorkeling boat tours!
These Chemicals are Actually Illegal in Maui County
Maui County lead to protect the environment with the enactment of a bill that went into effect on October 1st, 2022. The ordinance prohibited the sale, distribution, or use of non-mineral sunscreens. For more information on the ordinance, visit Mineral Only Sunscreen Maui County.
So please be sure to check your sunscreen labels and only use mineral-based sunscreen to protect your skin and the ocean. Just because a label claims “reef-safe”, it is still possible that the product may contain harmful chemicals that can severely pollute our reefs and marine life.
"Oxybenzone and octinoxate cause developing corals to bleach, baby corals to die, and lead to genetic damage in corals and other organisms, reported a study published in the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2015. The study also found both chemicals can increase reproductive diseases in creatures from sea urchins to parrotfish and mammal species similar to the Hawaiian monk seal.
Oxybenzone has a toxic effect on corals at a concentration of 62 parts per trillion – equivalent to one drop in six-and-a-half Olympic-size swimming pools. Up to 6,000 tons of sunscreen are estimated to wash into coral reefs around the globe each year. Rather than being evenly distributed, much of that sunscreen is concentrated at popular diving, swimming, and snorkeling sites.
Switch to mineral-based sunscreens and you’ll avoid products that contain these reef-harming chemicals." - Maui Nui Marine Resource Council
To report violations of Hawaiiʻs State Sunscreen Law, please email sunscreen@mauireefs.org or call 808-707-5056.
SUPPORT LOCAL
When visiting Maui, support local businesses by purchasing sunscreen from brands like Raw Elements or Project Reef. Supporting local businesses in Maui is a great way to contribute to the local economy and help sustain the community. Visit any local health food store such as Mana Foods or Down to Earth to get your hands on the good stuff!
These are our favorite local brands who offer reef-safe sunscreen deemed safe for coral reefs and marine life:
Maui Vera ( we love their after-sun cooling gel!)
The best sunscreen, is NO sunscreen….
Our Sunshirts from Anetik offer Vint Cooling Technology, UPF 30+ Sun Protection, Unmatched Breathability, Built for Land, Water and Life!
At Trilogy Excursions, we prioritize ocean and skin protection. According to NOAA, no sunblock is scientifically proven to be entirely “reef-safe”. However, mineral sunscreens containing non-nano titanium oxide or zinc oxide seem to be less harmful to corals. Even mineral-based sunscreens involve a chemical processes. For these reasons, we recommend covering up instead of relying solely on sunscreen. The best sunscreen, is NO sunscreen….
Instead, use sun management such as hats, neck buffs, and UPF-rated sunshirts which provide a reliable barrier and reduce the need for excessive sunscreen application. These can be worn in and out of the water. They are made of a lightweight, breathable fabric that dries quickly and helps to regulate your body temperature. Additionally, rash guards can help to prevent skin irritation and chafing that can occur from prolonged exposure to the sun and saltwater.
By choosing sunshirts and a limited amount of mineral-based sunscreens (for the small sensitive areas like your lips and nose), you can enjoy the ocean while minimizing the potential impact on coral reefs. At Trilogy Excursions, we encourage responsible choices for the long-term preservation of our ocean – O Ka pono o nā Kai (Do what benefits the ocean!)
Overall, wearing a rash guard is a great way to stay protected and comfortable while enjoying the outdoors.
Check out our amazing SPF Sun Shirts from Anetik here. All of our crew wear them out on the boat to stay protected!
Our crew often spend long days out on the water - and a reef-safe sunscreen is just one way of the many ways we practice SPF. Sun shirts, hats, sunglasses, and lots of water are key aspects of protecting yourself from the strong Maui Sun.
About Trilogy Excursions, Inc.
Trilogy Excursions is a pioneering sailing company founded in 1973 by the Coon family in Maui, Hawaii. With their unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, Trilogy Excursions has created lifelong memories that span the generations for countless guests from around the world. They are best known for their snorkel and sunset sails along with their flagship tour, “Discover Lana'i”. For more information, please visit https://sailtrilogy.com/.