HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0771.543 2020-2022 /C xd�
From: Monica Stone
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2022 1:24 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Support of Bill 167
Aloha Chair David, Co-Chair Chung and County Council Members,
Mahalo for receiving my testimony in strong support of Dill 167, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF
THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BYADDING A NEWARTICLE RELATING
TO PROHIBITION OF NON-MINERAL SUNSCREEN.
Although the ban on sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate went through in 2021, some stores continue
to sell them. Furthermore, there is no regulatory oversight over the term "reef safe" so brands are greenwashing their
products and misinforming the public by labeling products as reef safe when they contain other harmful to reef
chemicals as well.
Pass by any west side beach and the smell of chemical aerosol sunscreen hangs in the air and coats the surface of
the water-while it may be a nostalgic scent for those like me who were raised smothered in banana boat, it is in
actuality very harmful for the reef ecosystems of the island.
As an informed consumer, I am happy to pay a little extra for local brands making truly reef safe sunscreens, like
Little Hands Hawaii, Ao Organics Hawaii, and Coco Aloha. I'm also happy to take the extra 5 minutes to slather-on
instead of spray.
I think most of the aerosol-can-touting-tourists would try to do the right thing if they were empowered to do so, but
are misinformed by green-washed labels or not educated enough on the subject. The county doing everything they
can to mitigate this pollution is the right thing to do. Mahalo for passing Bill 167. This Kona mom is in strong support.
Monica Rott Stone '
District 7, Kailua-Kona ,
In Harmony Hawaii LLC C=
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