Oxybenzone studies have in the past been funded by a sunscreen company in hawaii, and used those to push for the ban of Oxybenzone sunscreen sales in Hawaii. Since Hawaii is an island, everyone needs to buy sunscreen on arrival after landing at the airport. Oxybenzone studies have been questioned previously based on the amount used in sunscreen, dilution in The Ocean, and those used in the study. Follow the money.
I think the implication instead is you can't carry on sunscreen since it's a liquid, so you'd have to buy when you get there. But you're right, if you're checking a bag, you can bring all the sunscreen you feel like schlepping.
I'm still having trouble finding any sort of indication that there's a law on the books that prohibits travelers from bringing whatever sunscreen they want into the state via air (or boat, I suppose). Nothing on banning possession either. Do you have a source?
Best I can find is that Hawaii prohibits the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, which took effect in 2021.
There's no enforcement, but bringing liquids through the TSA is a moderate pain in the ass, so it makes more sense to buy sunscreen at your destination.
