June 2026
I spent the better part of last week thinking I was coming down with something. Low-grade headache, scratchy throat, a little congestion, mild fatigue. My daughter suggested it might be vog rather than a virus. I think she was right — since it comes and goes and never gets much more severe.
That experience prompted this post. Vog is one of those facts of Big Island life that people considering a move here often don’t fully appreciate until they’re living with it.
What is Vog?
Vog — short for volcanic smog — is air pollution created when sulfur dioxide gas released by Kīlauea reacts with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight to form a hazy mix of gas and fine particles. Unlike wildfire smoke or car exhaust it’s entirely natural, but that doesn’t make it harmless.
Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has been continuously venting sulfur dioxide for decades. Even when the summit eruption is in a pause between episodes volcanic gas emissions can remain elevated and vog can continue to affect air quality across the island. Right now we’re in midsts of a two-year long eruption, and the emissions have been elevated the entire time. That may sound surprising, since the volcano is not constantly fountaining, but there is a difference between an eruption and episodes. The current eruption started in December of 2024, and there have been periods of fountaining (episodes) and pauses, but as far as volcanologists are concerned, we’re still in the same eruption. During that entire time, the amount of sulfur dioxide being emitted has been very elevated, compared to periods between eruptions. During pauses in the current eruption, gas emission rates have ranged between 1,000 and 5,000 tonnes per day, compared to the 120 tonnes per day between eruptions.
Where Does Vog Go?
This is where it gets interesting — and why the forecast maps (linked below) are so useful. Vog doesn’t affect the entire island equally. Where it goes depends almost entirely on wind direction and speed.
On typical trade wind days, the northeast winds carry vog from Kīlauea’s summit southwest and around the mountains, where it collects on the leeward Kona side of the island. Kona and South Kona bear the brunt on most days.
When trade winds slacken or shift — most commonly in winter, but it can happen anytime — the pattern reverses. Vog can blanket the summit region, Volcano Village, Kaʻū, and parts of east Hawaii including Hilo. On those days Waimea and the upper slopes of Mauna Kea often sit above or upwind of the densest vog layer — but not always. Wind direction and speed vary daily, and individual sensitivity to vog also varies from person to person. Vog ebbs and flows rather than following any simple long-term trend — but right now, conditions are more active than the recent baseline.
Symptoms to Watch For
Residents and visitors commonly report headaches, breathing difficulties, increased susceptibility to respiratory ailments, irritated eyes, sore throats, flu-like symptoms, and general fatigue from vog exposure, with some people also reporting fatigue or dizziness.
People most likely to experience negative health effects from vog include those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, as well as new or expectant mothers. Children and older adults are also generally more sensitive.
For most healthy people symptoms are mild and temporary — more annoying than dangerous, as I experience myself. For people with respiratory conditions, vog can be more serious.
What This Means for Buyers
Vog is a fact of life on the Big Island. It is worth factoring into your decision about where to live:
- The leeward Kona side experiences the highest vog levels on most days
- Waimea and upper elevations are often spared the worst of it but are not immune
- Properties at higher elevation and on the windward side generally have better air quality on typical trade wind days
- If you or a family member has respiratory sensitivities, discuss vog with your doctor before committing to a location
Resources for Tracking Vog
Conditions change quickly — sometimes hour by hour. Here are the best resources for current and forecast vog conditions:
- Vog Forecast Map — University of Hawaii forecast maps showing predicted vog movement across the island. This is the one I find most useful.
- Hawaii Interagency Vog Dashboard — real-time air quality data, vog forecasts, health information and protection advice. A comprehensive resource maintained by a partnership of state, federal and university agencies.
- Hawaii DOH Air Quality Map — current and historical air quality data from monitoring stations across the islands
- Hawaii SO2 Index — current SO2 levels across Hawaii Island with color-coded advisory levels
- AirNow — federal air quality index based on real-time particle monitoring
- PurpleAir — crowd-sourced air quality sensor network with good coverage across Hawaii Island
- USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory — current Kīlauea eruption updates and volcanic gas information
Living With Vog
Vog is one of the realities of living on an actively volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific. Like the earthquakes, the fire risk, and the cost of shipping, it’s something to understand clearly before you commit — and to manage sensibly once you’re here.
Judy S. Howard, Esq. is a Realtor Broker with COMPASS in Waimea, Hawaii, and a licensed Hawaii attorney with over 30 years of experience. She can be reached at judy@livinginwaimea.com or 808-885-5588.
This post is intended to share general information and personal experience, not medical advice. If you are experiencing symptoms you believe may be related to vog — or any respiratory or health symptoms — please consult a healthcare provider, particularly if you have asthma or another respiratory condition.