Vog Alert

So, I guess there is a vog alert today in Oahu. Being relatively new to the area, this was a first for me. I didn't even know what a "vog" is, so I did a little googling. It turns out this is volcanic dust/ash cloud from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island that rides the winds and wreaks havoc on lungs. Simply, vog = volcanic fog. Actually, it looks like just another smoggy morning in Southern California...

The vog is expected to last from today (10/9/2012) through Thursday (10/11/2012), which is the same time the jellyfish invasion is happening. The advice I heard on the radio was simple; stay indoors, and run the air conditioner. I guess the air conditioner usually has an air filter that will filter out some of the vog particles from the air.

I found another page that has 10 useful tips on how to minimize the effects of vog:

http://www.oahuhealthguide.com/healthtalk/display.htm?id=47&hhsid=d..

I guess this is a recurring problem on the Big Island, and it's an infrequent problem in Maui, but never a problem in Oahu or Kauai. I guess this instance we are currently experiencing is a rarity, but it's always good to be informed.

In any case, please try to stay safe, stay indoors, and keep your air fresh. Talk about breaking the aloha spirit; a vog alert, and a jellyfish invasion at the same time will do the trick.