Dispenser with Raw Elements Mineral Sunscreen Is Installed at Hawaii State Park

The first mineral-only sunscreen dispenser in a Hawai‘i State Park is now in place—and it is dispensing sunscreen from indie suncare brand Raw Elements.
 
Dena Sedar, an interpretive specialist with the DLNR Division of State Parks (DSP), coordinated the partnerships that funded the sunscreen station. The Coral Reef Alliance and Raw Elements Reef Friendly Sunscreen, both 1% For The Planet members, participated in this project. 
 
The touch-free sunscreen station is at the Waialea section of the Hāpuna State Recreation Area on the west coast of Hawai‘i Island.
 
Sedar and other ocean advocates were on hand to launch the sunscreen station that provides beach visitors with information on coral reef protection and the detrimental impacts that non-mineral sunscreens have on corals.
 
“This dispenser makes it easy for people to help save coral reefs,” said Erica Perez, senior program manager at the Coral Reef Alliance in Hawai‘i. “Not only are Hawai'i's coral reefs integral to Hawaiian culture, but they also provide food, income, and coastline protection to our communities. By using the free reef-safe sunscreen dispenser, beach-goers help protect the future of a vital lifeline here in Hawai’i.”
 
The Raw Elements mineral sunscreen, which contains 20% non-nano zinc oxide, aligns with Maui County Bill 135, which was recently passed and bans the use, sale, and distribution of non-mineral sunscreens. 
 
Hawai‘i has made strides to reduce the volume of sunscreen chemicals flowing into the ocean. A statewide ban on the sale of sunscreens containing two specific chemicals went into effect earlier this year.

You can hear more about Raw Elements from Founder Brian Guadagno in this Happi webinar (available on demand).