The coral reef plays a significant and insightful role in Hawaiian mythology. The Kumulipo, a native chant about creation that follows back to the beginning of time, eloquently states that coral was the first living thing on earth. As children of the ocean, that makes coral the first liquid incubators of life on planet earth. This month on the blog we’re talking about our gorgeous coral reefs and the part we can play in protecting these beautiful living creatures.

Coral reefs are described in many different shapes and colors. Some start as tiny plates and fingers and grow to become large extensive mounds which then become home to endless colonies of ocean life. You might compare a mound of reef as a city or hotel to fish, urchins, squid, snails, eels, etc. Without the proper shelter and food there is no marine life and without marine life, there is no us. This leads us to firmly believe that one, the only good place to stand in the ocean is on the sand. Two, take time to learn about an area before deciding to play in the ocean. If coral reef is around, be extra careful of where and how you have fun. Three, in some places feeding fish is completely illegal, and in most cases it’s a good idea to keep your food to yourself. Feeding the local marine life may disrupt the regular cycles of the reef. Four, use sunscreen that contain clean chemicals.

Most commercial sunscreens have two specific chemicals that are banned in Europe and Mexico — oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and octinoxate. Both chemicals have become a pressing concern to the state of Hawaii. In a study conducted by the Haereticus Environmental Lab in Clifford, Virginia, oxybenzone was shown to damage the DNA of coral larvae, thus causing deformities in growth. What’s especially worrisome is that damage from such a chemical occurs at minuscule concentrations. In layman’s terms, it takes a really small amount of oxybenzone to do a whole lot of damage.

You might be asking, so what can I do to help manage the issue? A good idea would be to stay out of the sun at peak UV times between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. A better idea would be to use sunblocks that contain zinc oxid or titanium oxide rather than harmful chemicals like oxybenzone. The best idea would be to cover up when choosing to play in the ocean. It’s smartest to wear a rash guard, swim shorts and wide hat while only applying sunscreen to your face, neck, feet and hands. This reduces the use of use and risk of sunscreen pollution by almost 90 percent.

We understand that changing your sunscreen and covering up when planning a day at the beach won’t solve all of the ocean’s problems, but it is a choice that we can make and a choice that will, in the long run, benefit all of us. Some coral reefs may be tiny, but their purpose on earth is immense. Here at Hanauma Bay Snorkel, we are all about keeping our oceans and our island in tip top shape — the earth needs us now more than ever, let’s make conscious decisions to help her out.