HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0771.445 2020-2022 P/CouLnci(
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From: julie ziemelis.com
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2022 3:10 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Mineral Sunscreen - Support of Bill 167
Aloha!
I am writing in support of Bill 167 as a long time educator and supporter of using mineral sunscreen vs toxic chemical sunscreen in
the ocean here in Hawaii County.
When I started educating the visitors and residents of West Hawaii through my 365 Things To Do in Kona and Kona Newbies Group,
people kept saying they were buying"Reef Safe"sunscreen that they bought from Costco or Safeway.Then they would find out the
the sunscreen contained chemicals that have proved harmful for the reef.They felt that the sunscreen companies had fooled them
and they asked why are we allowing chemical sunscreens to be sold here if we care about the health of the reef knowing that these
products were deceptively labeled?
This is a chance for Hawaii County to stand up and say we care more about our eco system than we do about watching big
corporations keep dumping their toxic products in Hawaii to sell to unknowing visitors and residents alike.
Some people may say that climate change is hurting the coral more than sunscreen. However, it has been proven that the chemicals
weaken the coral.We don't need more stressors on the fragile coral AND we can get the chemicals out of the water in our County
pools and run off from showers,too.
I helped raise over$5000 over the course of the last year with the help of concerned residents to put mineral sunscreen in the
dispensers at Kahaluu Bay through the Reef Teach program for free use to the public.
This is a chance for the County to make sure that by the time this free sunscreen runs out,that it won't be necessary anymore.
Thank you for your consideration,
Julie
Julie Ziemelis
L,u C.
Founder of Kona Newbies Group
365 Things To Do in Kona -'
r
365 Things To Do in Kohala .
365Hawaii on YouTube
Best of Kona Festival
808-785-2898
Comm. No11 1-1449
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