BY THE NUMBERS

Stand up and be counted

Ding dong!

No, it's not Avon calling—but it could be a U.S. Census taker.

Residents who failed to mail back the survey by the deadline weeks ago will probably get a visit, as thousands of Census workers have started to fan out across the state. Workers won't ask to enter your home—in fact, aren't allowed to enter—and will have an official badge and handheld Census device.

Hawaii has one of the lowest response rates in the country, at about 66 percent. The most responsive tract here was East Oahu's Kalama Valley, with an 89 percent response rate.

Five states—New York, California, Texas, Arizona and Florida—are perilously close to losing out on congressional seats because of low participation, the Associated Press reports.

BREATHE FREELY

The air in Honolulu is great, except when it isn't

What does Honolulu have in common with Cheyenne, Wyo., and Sante Fe, N.M.?

Clean, fresh air that ranks at the top in the nation, according to the American Lung Association. The recent review of air quality focused on man-made pollution in metropolitan areas—but did not include areas on the Big Island, where residents are severely affected by vog, the smoky sulfuric conditions caused by volcanic emissions.

Ironic timing for the report, as weather forecasts called for an increase in vog across parts of the Hawaiian Islands through early this week.