Molokini Rules and Reef Etiquette

The Rules of the Crater

Molokini is a Marine Life Conservation District, the strongest form of marine protection in Hawaii. Knowing the rules keeps you out of trouble and keeps the reef healthy for the next boatload of snorkelers.

According to the Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources Molokini Shoal page, inside the district it is prohibited to:

• Fish for, take or injure any marine life, including eggs (the only exception is trolling for finfish in the outer subzone)
• Feed fish or put food or attractants in the water
• Remove or damage sand, coral, rock or any geological feature
• Anchor where the state has installed day-use moorings
• Land on the islet, which is a state seabird sanctuary

Commercial activities need a permit, and commercial boats use permitted moorings. Rules can change, so treat this as a summary and check the state page for the current text.

Sunscreen: What Is Allowed on Maui

Hawaiʻi was the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, which took effect in January 2021. Maui County went further: under Maui County’s mineral-only sunscreen ordinance, in effect since October 1, 2022, only mineral sunscreens may be sold or used without a prescription. In practice, that means products whose active ingredients are zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Pack them from home or buy them on Maui, and consider a long-sleeved rash guard, which protects your back during a long float far better than any lotion.