Hawaii (statewide) sunscreen law
Since January 1, 2021, no one may sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale in Hawaii a sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate unless it is dispensed under a prescription. The statewide list is still just those two chemicals: later bills to add avobenzone and octocrylene did not pass. Maui County and Hawaii County have stricter mineral-only rules of their own.
Last verified October 14, 2026 · Act 104 (SB 2571, 2018), codified at HRS § 342D-21
Banned ingredients
| Ingredient | Also called | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Oxybenzone | benzophenone-3, benzophenone 3 | UV filter |
| Octinoxate | ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octyl methoxycinnamate | UV filter |
The details
- The law covers selling, offering for sale and distributing for sale. It does not ban visitors from bringing or using these sunscreens, although Maui County's ordinance does ban use there.
- Prescription exception: the ban does not apply to sunscreen dispensed under a prescription from a licensed physician, osteopathic physician or advanced practice registered nurse.
- Under the statute, 'sunscreen' means a product marketed or intended for topical use to prevent sunburn. Products marketed or intended as cosmetics for the face are excluded, so SPF face makeup falls outside the ban.
- The statute defines both chemicals by CAS number and trade synonyms, including benzophenone-3 for oxybenzone and ethylhexyl/octyl methoxycinnamate for octinoxate.
- The section itself names no penalty and no enforcing agency. It also barred counties from passing their own oxybenzone/octinoxate rules before January 1, 2021. That bar has expired, which is why Maui and Hawaii counties could later go further.
- No amendments: the official HRS text still shows only the 2018 enactment (L 2018, c 104, §2). SB 132 (2021), which would have added avobenzone and octocrylene from 2023, passed the Senate but died in a House committee. SB 748 (2024) also died. Any claim of a statewide avobenzone/octocrylene ban is wrong.
- Recent sunscreen measures (SB 2053 in 2024 and SB 840 in 2025, carried over to 2026) deal with mineral-sunscreen dispensers at state beaches, not new ingredient bans.
History
- January 1, 2021 · Took effect Sunscreen rule took effect.
We last re-read this law’s sources on October 14, 2026. All law updates →
Bringing and flying with sunscreen
Can you bring your own sunscreen to Hawaii?
Yes. Act 104 (HRS § 342D-21) makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale a sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate, and it says nothing about packing or carrying one. The Big Island ordinance is also limited to sales. Maui County is stricter: on Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi it bans using or applying any sunscreen with an active ingredient other than zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, unless a healthcare provider prescribed it.
Does Hawaii require reef-safe sunscreen?
Only Maui County sets a rule for the sunscreen you put on, and its test is the active ingredients (zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide only), not a “reef safe” label. The state law and the Big Island ordinance limit what stores sell. 388 of the 988 sunscreens we track are legal on every island.
Can you take sunscreen on a plane to Hawaii?
Yes. In a carry-on bag, TSA allows sunscreen in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, packed with your other liquids, gels and aerosols in one quart-size bag. Pack bigger bottles in checked baggage.
Can you pack spray sunscreen in checked luggage?
Yes. Federal hazmat rules (49 CFR 175.10) allow aerosol toiletries such as spray sunscreen in checked and carry-on bags if each can holds no more than 18 ounces by weight or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces), the nozzle is capped so it can’t spray by accident, and all such toiletry and medicinal items together come to no more than 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2 liters (68 fluid ounces). A can in a carry-on must also be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less.
Can you use spray sunscreen in Hawaii?
Yes, as long as its active ingredients meet the rule where you use it. Act 104 and the Big Island ordinance say nothing about format. Maui County’s own FAQ lists mineral sprays among the options. It advises lotions because aerosols can pollute the air and sand, but the ordinance’s test is the active ingredients. 47 sprays we track are legal on every island.
Sources: Act 104 (2018), Hawaiʻi County Ordinance 22-81, County of Maui mineral sunscreen FAQ, TSA: Sunscreen, TSA liquids rule and 49 CFR 175.10. For products that pass on every island, see the best sunscreens for Hawaii.
Sunscreens allowed in Hawaii
911 of 988 products we track pass; 76 don’t.Browse all 911 →
Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 30
Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30
Our best picks that are legal on every Hawaiian island →
By brand
Common questions
What sunscreen ingredients are banned in Hawaii?
Oxybenzone, Octinoxate.
When did the Hawaii sunscreen rule take effect?
January 1, 2021.
Which sunscreens are allowed in Hawaii?
Of the 988 products we track, 911 meet the Hawaii rule. The simplest choice is a sunscreen with only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients.