Overview
Kona Air Monitoring Station in Kealakekua, Hawaii, is an operational facility managed by the Hawaii State Department of Health, providing ambient air quality data for the region.
Kona Air Monitoring Station is an operational air monitoring facility located at 81-1043 Konawaena School Rd in Kealakekua, Hawaii, United States. It is part of the state's air quality surveillance network, operated by the Hawaii State Department of Health, and contributes to the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring network. The station collects ambient air samples to measure criteria pollutants and other parameters, supporting compliance with the Clean Air Act and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). As a fixed-site monitor, it provides representative data for the Kona district on the Big Island, with recent sampling activity reported as of June 2025. This facility plays a key role in tracking air quality in a region influenced by volcanic emissions (vog), marine aerosols, and local urban sources. Its data supports public health advisories and regulatory assessments, helping to protect communities and ecosystems in Hawaii.
Environmental context
The Kona region of Hawaii experiences unique air quality challenges due to volcanic emissions from Kilauea, which produce sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (vog). Marine air masses also bring sea salt aerosols. The monitoring station's siting near a school and residential area ensures representative sampling of population exposure. Its data contributes to understanding long-range transport of pollutants and local source impacts, supporting the state's air quality management under the EPA AQS framework.
Frequently asked questions
The Kona Air Monitoring Station is located at 81-1043 Konawaena School Rd in Kealakekua, Hawaii, United States.
The station is operated by the Hawaii State Department of Health, which manages air quality monitoring across the state.
As part of the EPA AQS network, the station monitors criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead, along with meteorological parameters.
Data from the station helps assess compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act, and informs public health advisories during volcanic vog events.
Hawaii's air monitoring network is critical for tracking volcanic emissions (vog), which can cause respiratory issues, and for understanding the interaction of natural and anthropogenic pollutants in a remote island environment.
Other Air Monitoring Station plants in United States · 6 nearby