LOCATION KAPULEHU                HI

Established Series
MRK-RTG
05/2012

KAPULEHU SERIES

The Kapulehu series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in basic volcanic ash in `a`a lava. Slopes range from 2 to 10 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 1140 millimeters (45 inches), and the mean annual air temperature is about 21 degrees C (69 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial-skeletal, amorphic, isothermic Humic Haplustands

TYPICAL PEDON: Kapulehu very cobbly medial silt loam, on a south facing, convex, 6 percent slope at an elevation of 415 meters (1360 feet). (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured with organic dyes. When described on January 6, 1999 the soil was dry throughout.) The 2C part of these horizons consist of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size.

A/2C1--0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very cobbly medial silt loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few medium and common very fine and fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; hydrophobic when dry; 20 percent subangular `a`a gravel and 35 percent angular `a`a cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); diffuse wavy boundary. (13 to 25 centimeters {5 to 10 inches} thick)

2C2/Bw--25 to 66 centimeters (10 to 26 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2/3) extremely cobbly medial loam, black (5YR 2/1) moist; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine to medium roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; hydrophobic when dry; 15 percent subangular `a`a gravel and 60 percent angular `a`a cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (40 to 76 centimeters {15 to 30 inches} thick)

2R--66 centimeters (26 inches); hard, massive `a`a blue rock.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii; from Kamaoa Road, enter Discovery Harbour subdivision at the eastern entrance, take the first right, then the next left; pedon is located 3 meters (10 feet) to the west from the end of cul-de-sac. Kahuku Ranch Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 2 minutes 13.8 seconds N. and long. 155 degrees 38 minutes 22.7 seconds. (Old Hawaiian Datum)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches).
Mean annual soil temperature: 21 to 22 degrees C (69 to 72 degrees F).
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to stones, but are primarily gravel and cobble size lava rocks.

A/2C1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist or dry.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist and 2 or 3 dry.
Texture: Very or extremely cobbly or gravelly medial silt loam, sandy loam or loam.
Structure: Granular or subangular blocky.
Soil reaction: Slightly acid or neutral (pH 6.1 to 7.3).

2C2/Bw horizon
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist or dry.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist and 2 or 3 dry.
Texture: Extremely gravelly or cobbly medial silt loam, sandy loam or loam.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Puu Pa series. Puu Pa soils are deep to bedrock.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kapulehu soils are on mid elevation, windward slopes on the upland and southwest rift zone of Mauna Loa Volcano at an elevation of 305 to 1067 meters (1,000 to 3,500 feet). These soils are on all hillslope positions of undulating to rolling `a`a lava flows that are 1,500 to 3,000 years old. Slope gradients range from 2 to 10 percent. The soils formed in basic volcanic ash over `a`a lava. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 760 to 1520 millimeters (30 to 60 inches), with most of the rainfall occurring from October through April. The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1520 to 2030 millimeters (60 to 80 inches). The mean annual air temperature ranges from 19 to 22 degrees C (67 to 72 degrees F). The mean summer soil temperature and the mean winter soil temperature differ by less than 6 degrees C (11 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Nanaia, Kamaoa, Keaa, and the competing Kiolakaa series. Nanaia soils are 5 to 25 centimeters (2 to 10 inches) deep over pahoehoe lava. Kamaoa soils are greater than 152 centimeters (60 inches) deep. Keaa soils are 25 to 50 centimeters (10 to 20 inches) deep over pahoehoe lava.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is very low Permeability is rapid in the soil and very slow in the underlying bedrock.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for grazing and wildlife habitat. The natural vegetation is Christmasberry (Schinus terebinthifolius) and guineagrass (Panicum maximum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kau District, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 157. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii 2008. Proposed in 1994.

REMARKS: Soil moisture - usually moist, but dry in some or all parts for short intermittent periods totaling 90 or more days in most years (Ustic moisture regime).

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches) (A/2C1 horizon).
Cambic horizon - 25 to 66 centimeters (10 to 26 inches) (2C2/Bw horizon).
Andic soil properties - 0 to 66 centimeters (0 to 26 inches) (A/2C1 and 2C2/Bw horizons).
Lithic contact - at 66 centimeters (26 inches) (2R horizon).

Edit log: 2/5/08 Andic modifiers added to horizon texture and minor edits made. MRK

ADDITIONAL DATA: User Pedon ID 01HI601010

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.