What Sunscreens Are Banned in Hawaii?

The Short Answer

Hawaii's sunscreen laws depend on which island you visit. Statewide, Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect coral reefs. Sunscreen Ingredients Harm Coral

But if you're traveling to Maui or the Big Island, the rules are much stricter. Both counties have banned all chemical sunscreens entirely.

If you want a sunscreen that is 100% legal across the entire state of Hawaii, you must bring a mineral sunscreen made exclusively with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Safest Sunscreen

Why This Matters

Coral reefs are dying, and chemical sunscreens are a direct contributor to the problem. An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash into the oceans every year, carrying toxic UV filters that cause coral bleaching and DNA damage. Sunscreen Killing Coral

Hawaii was the first state to fight back, but tourists are still bringing the wrong products. Many popular brands slap a "reef-friendly" label on their bottles simply because they removed oxybenzone. Reef Safe Regulated

Because of these marketing loopholes, local counties stepped in to ban chemical sunscreens entirely. Maui County's ban even makes the use of non-mineral sunscreens a violation of the county code, meaning you can't just bring your favorite chemical SPF from home. Mineral Vs Chemical Safer

What's Actually Banned in Hawaii

The regulations fall into two tiers. Here are the banned sunscreen ingredients you need to know about before you pack:

• Oxybenzone — Banned statewide since 2021. This chemical is a known endocrine disruptor and one of the most toxic UV filters to coral reefs. Is Oxybenzone Safe
• Octinoxate — Banned statewide since 2021. It causes coral bleaching and has been detected in human blood and breast milk. What Is Octinoxate
• All Chemical Filters (Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Homosalate, etc.) — Banned in Maui County and Hawaii County (The Big Island) since late 2022. You cannot buy them, and in Maui, you cannot legally use them. Is Avobenzone Safe

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide — The gold standard for both human safety and marine safety. Is Zinc Oxide Safe
• Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide — The only other FDA-approved mineral UV filter. Is Titanium Dioxide Safe
• "Non-Nano" labels — Ensures the mineral particles are large enough that they can't be ingested by marine life. Nanoparticles Sunscreen

Red Flags:

• "Reef Friendly" marketing — This term is completely unregulated and often hides illegal chemical filters. Reef Safe Regulated
• Clear spray formulas — Aerosol sprays inevitably coat the sand and wash directly into the ocean, and clear sprays are almost always chemical-based.
• Any active ingredient you can't pronounce — If it isn't zinc or titanium, it's a chemical filter. Sunscreen Ingredients Avoid

The Best Options

If you're heading to Hawaii, you need a true mineral sunscreen. Here are a few options, plus popular ones to avoid. Reef Safe Sunscreens

The Bottom Line

1. Check your destination. If you are visiting Maui or the Big Island, all chemical sunscreens are illegal.

2. Ignore "reef-safe" labels. Turn the bottle over and look exclusively at the active ingredients panel.

3. Pack mineral sunscreen. Only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are universally legal and safe for Hawaii's reefs. Is Zinc Oxide Reef Safe

FAQ

Can I bring my own sunscreen from home to Hawaii?

It depends on where you are going. If you bring chemical sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, it is banned from sale statewide but not technically illegal to use in Oahu or Kauai.

However, if you go to Maui, using any non-mineral sunscreen is against county law, even if you brought it from home.

Are spray sunscreens banned in Hawaii?

Aerosol sprays are not explicitly banned, but chemical sprays effectively are. Because almost all clear continuous-spray sunscreens rely on chemical filters, they are illegal to sell or use in Maui and the Big Island. Sunscreen Ingredients Avoid

What happens if I use banned sunscreen in Hawaii?

You likely won't be arrested, but you could face fines in Maui. More importantly, you are directly contributing to the destruction of the fragile coral ecosystems that you traveled to see.

Many local tour guides and snorkeling boats will actively check your sunscreen before you board. If you bring a chemical formula, they will make you throw away your illegal products.

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References (11)

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2. 2. ppai.org
3. 3. colorescience.com
4. 4. brushonblock.com
5. 5. cdc.gov
6. 6. sustainabletravel.org
7. 7. mashable.com
8. 8. goldbergsegalla.com
9. 9. legiscan.com
10. 10. biologicaldiversity.org
11. 11. dermnetnz.org