Kauai, Hawaii Air Quality
Kauai County, Hawaii (HI)
↓ Improvingover 9 years
How Kauai, Hawaii Air Quality Compares
Kauai, Hawaii's median AQI of 13is 68% better than the national average of 41. Air quality has improved by 10 AQI points over the past decade. The area rarely experiences unhealthy air quality days. The primary pollutant of concern is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).
Kauai, Hawaii Air Quality: The Full Picture
Kauai, Hawaii (Kauai County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of A (excellent, scoring 82 out of 100), built from 9 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI fell 10 points between 2014 (23) and 2022 (13), and the five-year median now sits at 15 — inside the "Good" band on the EPA scale.
The pollutant driving most of the area's AQI readings is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). In 2022, it set the daily AQI on 76 of 90 monitored days (84% of the year), making it the controlling pollutant for the A grade. The single worst reading logged that year hit an AQI of 38 (Good), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 26.
In 2022, Kauai County recorded 90 "Good" air days (100% of the 90 days with valid AQI data), 0 "Moderate" days, and 0 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged no days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse.
The decade-long trend is improving: median AQI has been dropping by roughly 0.72 points per year. The cleanest year in the record was 2022 (median AQI 13), and the most polluted was 2014 (median AQI 23). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the Hawaii county the monitors physically sit in rather than a city boundary.
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10-Year AQI Trend
The solid line shows the median AQI each year. The dashed line shows the 90th percentile (worst 10% of days). This area has seen measurable air quality improvement over the decade.
Air Quality Day Breakdown
Number of days per year in each EPA AQI category. Green = Good (AQI 0-50), Yellow = Moderate (51-100), Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Red = Unhealthy or worse (151+).
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Median AQI | 90th Pct | Max AQI | Good Days | Moderate | Unhealthy+ | Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 | 26 | 38 | 90 | 0 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 17 | 29 | 47 | 364 | 0 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 15 | 32 | 52 | 361 | 4 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2019 | 16 | 31 | 70 | 361 | 2 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2018 | 18 | 34 | 56 | 350 | 5 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2017 | 15 | 35 | 59 | 353 | 6 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2016 | 17 | 36 | 59 | 352 | 6 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2015 | 17 | 41 | 59 | 348 | 14 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2014 | 23 | 42 | 61 | 322 | 19 | 0 | PM2.5 |
What This Means for Kauai County Residents
Kauai, Hawaii has received an Air Quality Grade of A (82/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 13 falls in the "Good" range.
Encouragingly, air quality here has been improving, with the median AQI dropping by 10 points over the monitoring period. This trend suggests continued investment in emission controls and cleaner energy.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 0 unhealthy air quality days per year, days when sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor activity. The American Lung Association's State of the Air report provides additional context on long-term health risks from air pollution exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kauai, Hawaii has a current median AQI of 13, which falls in the "Good" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of A (82/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.
Air quality in Kauai, Hawaii is improving over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by -10 points from 2014 to 2022.
Kauai, Hawaii averages 0 unhealthy air quality days per year over the past 5 years. On these days, sensitive groups including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity.
The primary pollutant affecting Kauai, Hawaii is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Kauai County area.
Kauai, Hawaii averages 0 unhealthy air days per year. This is relatively low, making it a reasonable choice for asthma sufferers. The primary pollutant is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), which is a known asthma trigger.
With a median AQI of 13 (Good), outdoor exercise in Kauai, Hawaii is generally safe year-round. Kauai, Hawaii averages 0 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.