Be mindful of smoke-sensitive people

When you're firing up the barbecue tomorrow, keep in mind neighbors and family members who have lung problems, asks Jean Evans, American Lung Association of Hawaii executive director.

Hawaii has 154,000 residents with lung issues and the second-highest asthma rate for children in the nation, she said.

"We're getting quite a few complaints and concerns from people worried about barbecuing," she said. "In our confined areas, barbecue smoke can be difficult for people with breathing problems.

"We're just asking people to be mindful of that, to think of people downwind of it."

People who are at a barbecue and have breathing problems should stay away from the smoke, she said.

Fireworks, cigarette smoke and the possibility of vog are other factors that could cause some people to have difficulty breathing, she said.

Fireworks are not as extensive on July 4 in Hawaii "as our worst day of the year, New Year's Eve," she said. "Nonetheless, especially with the air quality these days, we are a little more concerned."

More vog also is possible from Kilauea's volcanic activity on the Big Island, she added. When tradewinds are weak, vog settles across the state, she said.

"The main message is there are four different reasons for having difficulty breathing: secondhand smoke, possible vog, fireworks and the barbecue."