When out in the sun on this Independence Day, don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen. It’s vital protection for your skin against harmful ultraviolet rays, so it’s a good habit to adopt in our tropical climate.

That good habit should be retained, even as sunscreen products themselves change. To wit: Our state on Tuesday adopted a new law that bans the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing two chemicals — oxybenzone and octinoxate, shown to be harmful to coral reefs. So start reading those labels, but don’t panic: The new law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

Family pets can be heroes, too

Man’s best friend is usually deemed to be a friendly canine — but felines can be heroic, too.

Last week there was a little Pomeranian that sensed the flames and woofed and woofed until the human occupants of the Mililani house got out safely. Then on Monday, a house cat in Kapahulu alerted its owners to another blaze, from which they escaped without injury, as well. The only harm is now worry: The cat has gone missing.

Let’s remain hopeful, however. As any cat lover knows, kitties are known to hide out for a while when frightened — even the heroic ones.