Air quality at Kīlauea is affected by volcanic sulfur dioxide gas (SO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5). Unhealthy levels of these pollutants can occur within the park. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions are especially sensitive to poor air quality.

The map portrays the approximate direction of the volcanic gas plume (gray wedge or circle) from Halema‘uma‘u. Currently, there are no measurable gas emissions from Pu‘u‘ō‘ō.

Click on the map circles to explore the current air quality conditions for sulfur dioxide and particulate matter at each monitoring site.

Monitoring site construction note Monitoring at Kīlauea Visitor Center is offline due to construction activities.

Kūkamāhuākea
(Steam Vents)
Volcano Art Center
Kīlauea Visitor Center
Nāhuku (Lava Tube)
Devastation Parking Lot
Uēkahuna
Nāmakanipaio
Campground
End of Chain of Craters Road
Kealakomo Overlook
Keanakāko‘i
Halema‘uma‘u
Crater
Pu‘u‘ō‘ō
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau
National Historical Park
Kahuku Unit
Kahuku Cross Fence
Halema‘uma‘u
Crater
Pu‘u‘ō‘ō
Kaloko-Honokōhau
National Historical Park
Map of Hawaii Big Island
Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Kahuku Unit
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Kahuku Cross Fence
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Volcano Art Center
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Kīlauea Visitor Center
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Uēkahuna
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Devastation Parking Lot
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Advisory History »
Kealakomo Overlook
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Advisory History »
End of Chain of Craters Road
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Advisory History »
Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Advisory History »
Nāmakanipaio Campground
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
Nāhuku (Lava Tube)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Advisory History »
Keanakāko‘i
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Advisory History »
  • Good
  • Moderate
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • Unhealthy
  • Very Unhealthy
  • Hazardous
  • Offline for Construction
  • Temporarily Offline

Meaning of Advisory Colors| Sulfur Dioxide Health Effects | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer

SO2 recorded every 15 minutes, PM2.5 recorded hourly.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Volcano Art Center site.
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Volcano Art Center site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kīlauea Visitor Center site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kīlauea Visitor Center site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Uēkahuna site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Uēkahuna site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Nāmakanipaio Campground site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Nāmakanipaio Campground site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kahuku Unit site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kahuku Unit site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kahuku Crossfence site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kahuku Crossfence site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kūkamāhuākea (Steam Vents) site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kealakomo Overlook site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the End of Chain of Craters Road site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Devastation Parking Lot site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park site.
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Nāhuku (Lava Tube) site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Keanakāko‘i site.
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) vertical bar chart showing recent data for the Keanakāko‘i site
Date and Time Advisory Color Advisory Category
  • Good
  • Moderate
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • Unhealthy
  • Very Unhealthy
  • Hazardous

Meaning of Advisory Colors| Sulfur Dioxide Health Effects | Particulate Matter Health Effects | Data Disclaimer

Sulfur dioxide icon
Parkwide Sulfur Dioxide Air Quality Index Sulfur dioxide air quality index information icon
Particulate PM2.5 icon
Parkwide Particulates (PM2.5) Air Quality Index Particulates PM2.5 air quality index information icon
Temperature icon
Temperature
°
°
Relative humidity icon
Humidity
Wind

Additional Information

Explore the links below to learn more about air quality in Hawai‘i and its health effects.

Air quality and weather data are typically displayed on this web page within 15 minutes (1 hour for PM2.5) of their collection. As a result, data quality is not guaranteed for scientific and regulatory purposes and data may be revised at a later time.

Recommended Action/Activity1
Color Code
& Air Quality Condition 		Air Quality Description Sensitive Groups2 People Experiencing Health Effects2 Everyone Else
 
Green (Good) Considered satisfactory & poses little or no risk Highly sensitive individuals may be affected at these levels   Potential health effects not expected
 
Yellow (Moderate) Acceptable, however, may be moderate health concern for small number of people Be aware that levels are slightly elevated If you experience breathing difficulties, such as chest tightness or wheezing, stop activities, use a rescue inhaler and find a place to sit down and rest. Potential health effects not expected, however actions to reduce exposure to vog may be useful
 
Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) Members in sensitive groups, including healthy individuals with mild asthma, may experience health effects. They may be affected at lower levels than general public. Toward the upper end of this range, most asthmatics who are active outdoors are likely to experience some breathing difficulties. General public not expected to be affected in this range. Avoid outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing or breathing through the mouth3 If you experience breathing difficulties, such as chest tightness or wheezing, stop activities, use a rescue inhaler and find a place to sit down and rest. Potential health effects not
expected, however actions to
reduce exposure to vog may
be useful
 
Red (Unhealthy) Everyone may begin to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Avoid outdoor activities & remain indoors Consider leavin the area Avoid outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing or breathing through the mouth4
 
Purple
(Very Unhealthy) 		Triggers health alert, meaning everyone may experience more serious health effects. Avoid outdoor activities & remain indoors Leave the area & seek medical help Avoid outdoor activities & remain indoors
 
Maroon (Hazardous) Triggers health warnings of emergency conditions. Entire population is more likely to be affected. Avoid outdoor activities & remain indoors. Leave the area if directed by Civil Defense Leave the area &
seek medical help 		Avoid outdoor activities & remain indoors. Leave the area if directed by Civil Defense
  • Asthmatics & persons with chronic respiratory disease: ALWAYS have your medications available. Reducing your exertion level so that you can breathe through your nose will reduce the amount of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that reaches your lungs.
  • People experiencing health effects: Contact your doctor as soon as possible if any problems develop, as respiratory conditions might worsen rapidly in heavy sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, or vog conditions.
  • People have different sensitivities to sulfur dioxide and/or particulate matter. Use this table to learn how sensitive you are, so that you can develop appropriate measures to protect your health and avoid serious responses.
  1. Susceptible individuals may develop symptoms at or below the Warning limits
  2. Sensitive Groups = children and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung or heart disease. Note: Some people with mild asthma may not be aware of it. If you have breathing difficulties at low levels of sulfur dioxide or particulate matter, check with your healthcare provider.
  3. People react differently to sulfur dioxide and particulate mater – some are more sensitive. The nasal passages can remove a lot of sulfur dioxide before it gets to the lungs. For many people simply reducing activity levels enough so that they can breathe through the nose will permit them to be outdoors without symptoms.