Travel fun, safe and sustainably. It’s easy to be a conscientious traveler these days. When it comes to vacationing and Hawaii sustainability, here are just a few simple tips to make your vacation perfect for you and sustainable for us all.
1. Hawaii sustainability: Reef Safe Sunscreen
Technically you have until 2021 until this becomes law but why not get a head start on protecting the dazzling nature you see around you?
Most sunscreens (although we’re happy to report that this is changing rapidly) contain chemicals like octinoxate or oxybenzone; you don’t have to remember those words but do remember they’re bad for coral and underwater life.
To help Hawaii sustainability, look for the reef-safe stamp of approval on sunscreens for an easy way to make a difference. Non-harmful sunblock should be available at a retailer near you if you’re planning ahead, or if you wait to buy on-island you’ll have no problem finding the right stuff.
2. To help Hawaii’s sustainability, drink from a Reusable Water bottle
You’re planning a vacation to a tropical exotic location, you’re gonna get thirsty!
Avoid the hassle and waste of buying drink after drink after drink and invest in a reusable water bottle. We promise, the convenience is reason enough to make the purchase, add to that the perk of being a sustainable traveler and embrace the change. Plus, we think they make us look pretty cool too.
3. Leave everything where you find it
We know how tempting it is. The sand is beautiful, the rocks are beautiful, come to think of it what isn’t beautiful here? But trust us when we say that everything is more beautiful when it’s left as-is, especially when Hawaii’s sustainability is at stake.
Many of the highlights on the Big Island of Hawaii are temporal. From the sandy beaches to the harsh but stunning lava landscape. We’ve seen people grabbing a handful of green sand, or a shimmering piece of lava rock. Although we understand the temptation, besides being bad luck (one of the few superstitions we do believe in) it’s plain ol’ unsustainable.
The marvels you get to witness would be gone in a matter of weeks or months if everyone took home a natural souvenir. Leave the beauty alone physically (but take ALL the pictures you want).
4. Why not give back and gain a new perspective on the island?
We all vacation differently. Maybe you’d like to lounge on the beach with a piña colada, or maybe you want to hike the 14 mile Mauna Ulu Trail at Volcanoes National Park, maybe you want to snorkel with manta rays (okay, who wouldn’t want to do that?) or stay inside and order room service.
If you’re lookin’ for another way to spend your time while appreciating the beauty of the Aloha State in a whole new way, try spending your time giving back, helping to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable Hawaii.
There are always cleanups or reforestation opportunities throughout all the islands, but even if you can’t find one during your time here, consider an impromptu one yourself. Gather not only your trash, but the garbage around you after lounging on the beach. Collect beach glass, fill a plastic bag before you go. It’s a wonderful feeling to leave something better than how you found it.
The future of Hawaii’s sustainability is in our hands. Together we can make sure the beauty of the islands is preserved, and make Hawaii a stunning, clean and healthy place to visit for generations and generations!
