Health Department tracks quality of air around Oahu

Question: There was an article recently that said Honolulu has clean air, but that’s for the whole city. The air in my neighborhood seems to be getting worse. Is there any information about Oahu’s air quality by smaller districts, rather than for the whole city?

Answer: Yes, the state Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch provides continuous updates about air quality in Hawaii, based on nearly real-time data from stationary, outdoor air monitors located throughout the state. There are four monitors on Oahu: in urban Honolulu (Punchbowl Street), Kapolei and Pearl City, and on Sand Island.

Go to 808ne.ws/1OkUGhz for a brief explanation of air quality standards and the type of pollutants measured, then click on the green link in the middle of the page to view the Hawaii Ambient Air Quality Data. On the data page, select “map” under the “air monitoring sites” header, then click on the island of Oahu (and keep clicking to enlarge the image, if you prefer).

When we checked late Monday afternoon, all but one of the Oahu monitors reported good air quality, the best designation. Sand Island was moderate, one step below good.

Another useful website is airnow.gov, the Air Quality Index maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the whole United States. Once on the main page, click on the map of Hawaii for a quick list of current conditions at locations on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

The article to which you referred in your question was based on the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2016 report, which graded U.S. counties on the 2012-2014 presence of three types of pollution: particle pollution, both short-term and year-round, and ozone (smog).

Honolulu, which benefits from cleansing tradewinds, ranked among the cleanest cities on all three lists, one of only four metropolitan areas to do so (the others were Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.; Elmira-Corning, N.Y.; and Salinas, Calif.).

Those four were the only U.S. cities reporting no days of unhealthy air quality for the time period, according to the report, which noted that air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and heart attacks, lead to lung cancer and cause premature death.

You can see the full report at 808ne.ws/1T00pPo; it is searchable by state.

Auwe

Auwe to the bicyclists who continue to ride on the sidewalk — fast! — even though there is a cycle track on King Street dedicated for their use. I am so tired of practically being run down every day as I walk on the sidewalk, which as a pedestrian is where I am supposed to be! — Treading lightly

E Kala Mai

My apologies for cutting in front of the drivers waiting in the traffic line to drop off boxes for shredding in Aiea. I hadn’t intended to do that, but I waited too long to change lanes and then if I didn’t scoot over I would have missed the free shredding service altogether. I could tell the lady behind me was very irritated, and I’m sorry and embarrassed about that. — Contrite shredder

Mahalo

Mahalo to the young couple with the curly-haired little girl enjoying dinner at Palace Saimin on Mother’s Day Eve. Thank you so very much for picking up the check for my elderly mom and me.

We’d heard of such things, of course, but never for once thought it might ever happen to us. As I was about to leave a tip, our server refused it, saying you’d taken care of it as well! Mom and I have been enjoying won ton min there for more than 50 years, but this night’s meal will remain for us the most memorable one ever. You can be sure of one thing: The kindness you showed us will be paid forward many times over. — Mahalo from a grateful mother and son

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.