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Is the air quality good in Hawaii?

Author

David Richardson

Updated on March 04, 2026

Is the air quality good in Hawaii?

Hawaii Boasts Some of the Best Air Quality in the Nation According to the 'State of the Air' 2019 Report. The American Lung Association's 2019 “State of the Air†report found that Hawaii has some of the cleanest air in the U.S. and Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina are two of the cleanest areas in the country.

Similarly, why is Hawaii air quality so bad?

The Department of Health in Hawaii has informed the public that the air quality has reached thresholds deemed “harmful” several times in December; all were caused by the ongoing Kilauea Volcano Eruption.

Furthermore, what state has the best air quality? States with the Best Air Quality

  • Hawaii. Hawaii has an air quality index of 21.2, the cleanest average air in the U.S. This is well in the good air quality index range.
  • Alaska.
  • Washington.
  • Oregon.
  • Maine.
  • Utah.
  • Ohio.
  • Georgia.

Correspondingly, which Hawaiian island has the best air quality?

American Lung Association says Maui and Oahu have nation's cleanest air.

Where is the best air quality in the world?

World major city air quality ranking

#cityUS AQI
1Johannesburg, South Africa187
2Lahore, Pakistan158
3Santiago, Chile153
4Kabul, Afghanistan147

Is the air quality bad in Hawaii?

The American Lung Association's 2019 “State of the Air” report found that Hawaii has some of the cleanest air in the U.S. and Honolulu and Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina are two of the cleanest areas in the country. Honolulu had no unhealthy air days for ozone pollution.

Why does Hawaii have clean air?

Hawaii has very clean air in general. Also, two natural processes (volcanic activity at Kilauea and the formation of marine aerosols by wind action on the sea surface) helps give us a relatively high sulfate and general aerosol levels in our air, particularly during Kona weather times (when winds blow from the south).

Where is the cleanest air in the US?

Hawaii has some of the cleanest air in the country, even in its urban areas like Honolulu. In fact, the American Lung Association reported that Honolulu County hit a record low in 2019 for the annual average particle pollution.

Is there smog in Hawaii?

Hawaii Smog Check / Emissions Test

Currently, there are no vehicle emissions test requirements in the state of Hawaii. The air quality of Hawaii is some of the cleanest in the U.S. Honolulu is constantly ranked among one of the cities with the least ozone air pollution nationally.

What causes Hawaii pollution?

Groundwater is the major source of water use of Hawaii. Major sources of pollution are: Agriculture chemical applications (such as the rise in nitrate concentration in the groundwater of the Pearl Harbor aquifer). The nitrate concentration has not exceeded the maximum allowable limit, however.

Is Oahu water safe to drink?

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply says Oahu's municipal water is safe to drink and use, and it does not require treatment by home filtration units.

Is steamy VOG safe to breathe?

Vog, which is short for volcanic smog, is a hazy form of air pollution emitted by volcanoes. However, this haze does exacerbate dangerous asthma symptoms for those who already suffer from the respiratory illness, even during short-term exposure.

What is Hawaii's air quality?

Honolulu, Hawaii Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)
CurrentMax
PM2.5 AQI2138
PM10 AQI717
SO2 AQI-0
CO AQI66

Why does Hawaii have some many unhealthy days?

Air pollution caused by sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases became a frequent problem on the island in mid-1986, when the volcano's ongoing eruption, which began in 1983, changed from episodes of spectacular lava fountaining (shown here) to a nearly constant but quiet outflow of lava and gas.

Is Hawaii a Polynesian island?

Hawaii is the only US state entirely composed of an island. Hawaii is the northernmost island group in Polynesia and can be rightfully be referred to as a Polynesian. It includes almost the entire of volcanic Hawaiian Archipelago which is made of several islands spread over 1,500 miles in the central Pacific Ocean.

Is Hawaii a clean place?

The American Lung Association's State of the Air 2018 report shows that Hawaii continues to have some of the best air quality in the nation.

How does plastic pollution affect Hawaii?

“Ocean plastic pollution is a crisis here in Hawaii. It chokes wildlife and carries toxins onto our beaches and through our food web. Plastic pollution in Hawaii ranges from microplastics that contaminate coastal waters and harm marine life to massive piles of plastic waste along Kamilo Beach.

What pollution is in the air?

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.

Does Hilo have clean air?

The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Hilo area is 72 (100=best). The US average is 58.

What are some things that might influence a change in air quality?

The climate influences temperatures, cloudiness, humidity, the frequency and intensity of precipitation, and wind patterns, each of which can influence air quality.

How is the air pollution in California?

Air monitoring shows that over 90 percent of Californians breathe unhealthy levels of one or more air pollutants during some part of the year. Estimated total cancer risk from all air toxics is 730 per million. Of this total, 520 per million are due to diesel particulate matter.

What does non attainment mean?

Nonattainment: Any area that does not meet (or that contributes to ambient air quality in a nearby area that does not meet) the national primary or secondary ambient air quality standard for a NAAQS.

Where is the cleanest air on Earth?

The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico has the world's cleanest air according to the latest World Air Quality Report by IQAir.

What is the cleanest state to live in?

Hawaii is America's healthiest state, with fewer preventable hospitalizations than anyplace else, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The air is the cleanest of any state. Hawaii offers an abundance of attractions.

What state has cleanest water?

The state of Rhode Island has the cleanest natural environment and tap water in the United States.

What area has the worst air quality?

According to a 2009 report, around "60 percent of Americans live in areas where air pollution has reached unhealthy levels that can make people sick".

Pollution level rankings 2019.

RankCity
1Bakersfield-Delano, CA
2Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA
3Fairbanks, AK
4San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA

What is the least polluted state?

States With the Least Pollution
  • South Dakota.
  • New Mexico.
  • Wyoming.
  • New York.
  • Montana.
  • Rhode Island.
  • California.
  • Maine.

What is the dirtiest city in America?

City Rankings
OVERALL RANKCityLiving Conditions Rank
1Palmdale, CA10
2Los Angeles, CA3
3Newark, NJ59
4Houston, TX14

What is the dirtiest city in the world?

World air quality report
RankCity2020 AVG
1Hotan, China110.2
2Ghaziabad, India106.6
3Bulandshahr, India98.4
4Bisrakh Jalalpur, India96