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COUNTY OF HAWAII / • STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 6'72 16
A RESOLUTION URGING THE 2017 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO
PROMOTE OCEAN HEALTH BY BANNING THE SALE OF SUNSCREENS AND
OTHER PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN OXYBENZONE.
WHEREAS, oxybenzone is a chemical found in some sunscreens and other personal
care products sold in the State of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, according to a team of international scientists (findings were published in
the journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology), oxybenzone can cause
severe DNA damage in coral, inhibit the coral's ability to reproduce, and increase its
susceptibility to bleaching; and
WHEREAS, coral bleaching occurs when coral is stressed by changes in its surrounding
conditions and the symbiotic algae living in its tissues leaves, causing it to lose its source of
nutrition and turn white; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2016, an article on the Civil Beat website stated that coral is
damaged when the concentration of oxybenzone exceeds 62 parts per trillion, which is roughly
equivalent to one drop in an area larger than six Olympic-sized swimming pools; and
WHEREAS, according to the Civil Beat website, the amount of oxybenzone in Honolua
Bay, Maui, was found to be over 2,000 parts per trillion; and
WHEREAS, oxybenzone has also been shown to disrupt the development of fish and
other marine life; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii is a popular tourist destination that is known for its beautiful
beaches and coral reefs, and the Council recognizes the importance of promoting ocean health
and protecting the coral reefs surrounding the State of Hawaii from negative effects that can be
controlled or mitigated; and
WHEREAS, the Council is very concerned about the negative effects that oxybenzone
has on coral reefs and on other marine life; and
WHEREAS, there are alternative sunscreens and personal care products available that do
not contain oxybenzone, such as those that are mineral based; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that a ban is urgently needed and that a study or an
educational campaign is not necessary given the rapid decline of coral reefs around the State and
the availability of alternative products that do not contain oxybenzone; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
2017 Hawaii State Legislature is hereby urged to pass legislation to ban the sale of sunscreen
and other personal care products that contain oxybenzone.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor David Y. Ige, all Hawai`i State Senators and
Representatives, the Mayor of the County of Kauai,the Mayor of the County of Maui, the Mayor
of the City and County of Honolulu, the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the
State Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the
Director of Planning, the Director of Public Works, the Director of Research and Development,
the Chief of Police, and the Manager-Chief Engineer of the Department of Water Supply.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 2nd day of November , 2016 .
INTRODUCED BY: i
i
L
CO CIL M BER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the ILAGAN
( aunty of Hawaii on _ November 2, 2016 X
KANUHA X
ONISHI X
ATTEST: PALEKA X
POINDEXTER X
Q wILLE X
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Reference: C-1093/GREDC—9
t'OUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 6 /2 16
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