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The Good Hearted Woman

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Pasty in Paradise: How to Avoid Sunburn on Your Tropical Vacation

July 13 By Renée 16 Comments

Or, Why This Portlander Got an Umbrella… for Hawaii. 

There are a few unwritten rules about being a true Portlander, and the first one is:

Real Portlanders don’t carry umbrellas.

Oh sure – you might “own” an umbrella. And if push comes to shove, you might even be able to find it to loan to visiting out-of-town relatives. (Tip: It’s probably hidden in the back corner of your garage.) But a real Portland native wouldn’t be caught dead actually carrying one around town, much less popping it open in the rain.

Tropical vacations, however, are another story.

How to Avoid Sunburn on Your Tropical Vacation | The Good Hearted Woman

I received my Umbrellas Hawaii sun-brella free to test drive, no strings attached. This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Due to his strong Native American heritage, Mr. B is blessed with beautiful olive-brown skin that turns the color of warm caramel in the sun. I, on the other hand, with my Celtic and Germanic roots and pasty-white complexion to match, have no such luck: I practically burn just thinking about direct sunlight. (As a tween, I once fell asleep floating in the pool at Kah-nee-ta Hot Springs and ended up with second degree burns over almost 50 percent of my body.)  So last winter when Mr. B and I started planning our recent Hawaiian vacation, sun protection was at the top of my list, and I knew a simple sunscreen wasn’t going to cut it.  I needed a plan.

How to Avoid Sunburn on Vacation

Many tips to avoid sunburn simply do not work when you are on vacation. These include things like:

  • Stay out of the sun during peak hours.  Really? You want me to stay inside between 10am and 3pm on my vacation? Not happening.
  • Keep covered up. Ok, maybe. But when the temperatures soar and the humidity is 70%? Also not happening.

Other tips to avoid sunburn work, but for those of us with extremely fair skin, they only go so far:

  • Use sunscreen on any exposed areas. I do this religiously. Experts recommend an SPF of 45 or better, which will allow even the fairest skinned to stay out in the sun for a few hours. (I use 70 to 100 SPF.) Follow the instructions on sunscreen carefully, and reapply as directed.  (Note that most “water-resistant” products require reapplication at least every 80 minutes.)
  • Pay attention to hard-to-reach places. This may require the help of a buddy.  Remember to cover the back of your knees and neck, tops of toes, and ears (even if you have long hair).
  • Wear a hat, or put sunscreen on your head. (I know – eww. But a sunburned hairline is even grosser.) Some shampoos and conditioners contain UV protection too.
  • If you are beach or water-bound, don’t forget your “fanny line“ – the place where your swimsuit meets your backside.  This can easily be forgotten, especially if you apply your sunscreen before you go out, and then take off your shorts to go in the water, resulting in hot buns (and not the good kind) later in the day. [← Voice of Experience.]

Knowing that I would be spending an inordinate amount of time in direct sunlight, I knew I needed something that went above and beyond to avoid sunburn. And then I saw a silver lining: the closet eccentric in me has been dying for an excuse to get a parasol for years! (Because every girl needs a parasol some time, right?)  But when I started looking, all I could find were lacy, Gothic-inspired (or better yet, Hello Kitty) umbrellas, or drab “UV-protectant sunshades.” Blech. I wanted something age-appropriate, functional, and pretty.

That’s when I found Annie O’Connor Hughes of Umbrellas Hawaii.

How to Avoid Sunburn on Your Tropical Vacation | The Good Hearted Woman

Halfway up Diamond Head. (View from the top in an upcoming post.)

After exchanging a few emails, Annie and I made a date to meet up in Honolulu on the first day of my Hawaiian adventure. A long-time Oahu resident and artist, Annie shared with me how she founded Umbrellas Hawaii in 2006, after searching out a UV-safe solution for her fair skin (much as I did) and finding nothing that met her needs.

Through our conversation, I learned that Annie is as passionate about the quality of her products as she is about health benefits they provided. Umbrellas Hawaii offers what is basically a high-tech parasol, with island-style designs that offer serious skin protection in a beautiful, tropically inspired product. Every umbrella is lined with Ultra Violet Protective Factor (UPF) fabric that has been tested and certified to block 95%-97% of Ultra Violet (UV) radiation.

When I got my “sun-brella” (as I like to call it) from Annie, I really didn’t anticipate how much of an impact it would have.  However, in retrospect, I honestly believe it saved our vacation. Hawaii was very hot and humid the entire ten days of our trip, and without it, no amount of sunscreen would have saved me from being burnt to a crisp. (Even if you are like Mr. B and have never had a real sunburn, have you ever had to endure a trip with someone who is badly sunburnt? Does the term “cranky” ring a bell? A sunburn can ruin a trip for everyone.)

How to Avoid Sunburn on Your Tropical Vacation | The Good Hearted Woman

I took my sun-brella everywhere, with the obvious exceptions of snorkeling and kayaking. Needless to say, it is now a permanent fixture on my vacation packing list.

Annie’s sun-brellas are incredibly well made, with great attention to detail:

  • The UPF certified fabrics block 95%-97% of UV radiation.
  • Seams are tight, and the traditionally metal rods are all made with fiberglass, making it incredibly light and strong.
  • The open/close mechanism works very easily. I must have opened and closed mine at least 200 times over 10 days, and I never once had a problem or pinched a finger.
  • The colorful outer fabric, designed in Hawaii, is complemented by a natural faux-bamboo handle that looks at home in a tropical setting.  I don’t feel like I’m carrying an “umbrella.”
  • The little pieces at the ends of the struts are nicely rounded, so you don’t have to worry about poking anyone’s eye out with them.
  • It seems to be perfectly sized. I could easily walk hand-in-hand with Mr. B while holding my sun-brella over my head and not get it into his space.
  • The sun-brella itself is very light, and the handle fits comfortably in my hand, even after hours of use.
  • It has durable water repellency, and can double as an umbrella to keep you dry in that unexpected summer shower. (If you’re into that kind of thing.)

How to Avoid Sunburn on Your Tropical Vacation | The Good Hearted Woman

In closing, I wish I could fully explain how grateful I am to be sitting here at my computer typing away, just two days after my vacation, and not suffering from post-vacation sunburn and all that goes along with it. Finally, an umbrella I can use! 

Umbrellas Hawaii products are available in a rainbow of colors and can be ordered online by visiting their website.

Disclosure: I received my Umbrellas Hawaii sun-brella free to test drive, with no strings attached.This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!


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Filed Under: Oahu, Travel Tagged With: Hawaii, Vacation

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About Renée

Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

Comments

  1. blankAli says

    July 13 at

    I love this advice – and laughed out loud a few times reading it! I’m fair skinned, but not super fair skinned, so sun screen is usually enough for me. Although I have gotten my fair share of scalp burns, so this parasol looks awesome!

    Reply
  2. blankJenni says

    July 13 at

    Fantastic advice! I’ve had skin cancer removed now twice and it is not fun… but, you are right, sometimes staying inside or covering up completely is just not practical. Love the umbrella and the tips!

    Reply
  3. blankErin @ Platings and Pairings says

    July 13 at

    Renee I can totally relate to your pain! I got severe burns as a child while I was floating on my stomach in the ocean for way too long as a child! I also, just last year, got pretty burnt in Oahu, even though I had SPF 30 on. I have learned my lesson, again! Thank you for this great advice!

    Reply
  4. blankSusan | LunaCafe says

    July 13 at

    Wow, these are AWESOME. Such pretty fabrics. I always need an umbrella in Hawaii and could use one in Portland this summer as well. I wear a visor nearly ever day. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
  5. blankjanet aycock says

    July 13 at

    this is awesome i would love to have one thanks

    Reply
  6. blankErin says

    July 13 at

    The worst is when you get sunburnt on vacation and then can’t enjoy the rest of it because you’re in so much pain. So I totally agree that umbrellas are a great idea. This one is really cute – I love that you also color coordinated your outfits to match 🙂

    Reply
  7. blankJen says

    July 13 at

    While we were in Asia last year we noticed lots of people using umbrellas for shade. We ended up adopting this practice too – we even took (boring regular old) umbrellas with us on our Annapurna Circuit trek, not for rain but for shade. Worked like a charm!

    Reply
  8. blankCatherine says

    July 13 at

    My best advice is to apply sunscreen before you leave the house (or hotel room) and BEFORE you put on your clothes/swimming suit. You’re more likely to get coverage under straps—and yes, around your fanny line. 🙂

    Reply
    • blankRenée ♥ says

      July 13 at

      Great advice, Catherine! Many people don’t understand that sunscreen doesn’t work right away – it takes up to 30 minutes to build up a good layer of protection, so putting it on before getting into the sun is a must! Thanks!

      Reply
  9. blankTracy says

    July 13 at

    It’s wonderful that you can be fashion conscious and protect your skin as well! Very nice. Glad you had a nice vacation without a sunburn.

    Reply
  10. blankLeigh ANne Borders says

    July 13 at

    My advice to apply sunscreen throughout the day and to drink plenty of water.

    Reply
  11. blankDanielle says

    July 14 at

    Love this! haha, I never used to burn when I lived in LA, but since moving up north to Portland, I am the whitest girl in my family and they all remind me of that fact every time we come visit. I got my first real sunburn a few years ago, wish I had followed these steps then!

    Reply
  12. blankLindsay Ingalls (@RunWithTongs) says

    July 14 at

    What a great umbrella! My daughter (3yo) just saw some people with umbrellas yesterday and was asking me why they where using them without rain. I explained to her that they are great for sun as well.

    Reply
  13. blankshaunie says

    July 19 at

    I would have to say staying out of the sun

    Reply

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