Napili Bay fronting the resort is one of Maui’s most popular recreation areas. -- Napili Kai Beach Resort photo

Located on one of Maui’s most scenic reef-protected bays, Napili Kai Beach Resort has introduced an educational program to encourage visitors to use reef-safe sunscreens to save the environment.

In recent years, the coral reefs throughout Hawaii and the world have shown damage and bleaching due to a variety of environmental factors, which include poisoning by chemical sunscreen.

As it turns out, many common sunscreen ingredients lower reef tolerance to bleaching and interrupt the development of marine life, including the coral itself, which is a living ocean organism.

Starting in mid-December, Napili Kai welcomed arriving guests with a free sample packet of Raw Elements reef-safe sunscreen, a discount coupon to purchase more and details about the damaging affects of chemical sunscreen on the reef ecosystem.

In addition, the resort beach recreation staff regularly walk the bay, providing information to people on the importance of examining their sunscreen ingredients.

Napili Bay is one of the most beautiful on Maui. It boasts a crescent-shaped beach and a coral reef providing a haven for marine life — and excellent snorkeling, swimming, surfing and kayaking.

The resort now provides a list of ingredients to avoid such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, octinoxate and homosalate. When choosing a sunscreen, opt for a mineral-based product such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in a fragrance-free natural base, rather than a chemical sunscreen or spray. Apply sunscreen at least 15 to 30 minutes before entering the water, so it has a chance to soak in — or the majority of it will wash away almost immediately in the water.

Napili Kai Beach Resort is a deluxe beachfront property with 163 hotel rooms, studios and one- and two-bedroom suites in 11 low-rise plantation-style buildings. Most rooms include kitchen facilities.

The resort has an informal ambiance with the beach at your doorstep. Other amenities include multiple swimming pools, two putting greens, shuffleboard courts, fitness room, boutique day spa, guest barbecue facilities, and free WiFi. World-class golf and tennis are available down the street from Napili Kai in Kapalua resort grounds.

Its Sea House restaurant is just a rubber-slipper toss from the bay and it’s one of Maui’s top dining destinations due to Executive Chef Alex Stanislaw and his team.

For reservations or further details, call Napili Kai at 669-6271, email stay@napilikai.com or visit the website at www.napilikai.com, that has a live webcam and an extensive online property tour.