Molokai Kiaʻi Ea: Guarding Our Island with Smart Tech
By Phil Smolinski
I recently built a tool for our community called the Kiaʻi Ea (Air Monitor). It’s powered by the Sensirion SPS30, a high-grade particle detector with a European certification. While cheaper sensors can provide air quality measurements, they tend to degrade over time. This one uses a laser to physically measure particles, meeting strict European standards for accuracy. Also, they are calibrated before leaving the factory. All units shipped closely reproduce the same data measurements.
The best part? I didn’t have to be a computer scientist to build it. I used Gemini AI to write the code and set up the data transmission. It’s a true “man and machine” collaboration that allows anyone with a smartphone to see exactly what we’re breathing in real-time.
The Results: Some of the Cleanest Air on Earth
After looking at the data, I was blown away. We truly live in a special place. I set up the monitor to separate ehu make (PM2.5) combustion particles from puehu (larger dust and pollen).
During my brief examination of the data, our air has been always in the “Green” zone. The misleading exceptions happened when it picked up my essential oil diffuser mist particles, which have no effect on general air quality. It makes me wonder: how many months could we go without a single bad air day? On Molokai, the answer might be “forever.”
A Vision for “Ea, Aina and Kai Tech”
This project made me think about our future. What if Molokai became a hub for Ea, ʻĀina and Kai Tech?
Could we be a place where “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices—remote sensors for our fishponds, farms, and oceans—are designed and tested right here with our local stewards being the first to benefit? We keep the high-paying “knowledge jobs” on the island and leave the heavy manufacturing elsewhere. It’s a way to protect our lifestyle while creating opportunities for the next generation.
The Kiaʻi Ea is proof that the tools are already in our hands. Could the SPS30 be developed into a dual use instrument with a docking station for fixed use and portable for investigation? I have the code and hardware list, ready for anyone who wants to learn and check out my simple example and move it forward. There could be a market for it.
See our live air quality here: Note: you don’t need an account to view the data. A green rectangular border means there is nothing to measure, it’s zero.
https://io.adafruit.com/kaunakakai_hikina/dashboards/molokai-air-monitor
loaʻa nā kikoʻī ʻenehana ma ʻaneʻi
Add your comment
Don't have a Molokai Dispatch ID?
Sign up is easy. Sign up now
You must login to post a comment.
Lost Password