LOCATION KAHALUU                 HI

Established Series
Rev. RCH/HHS/PGN
05/2012

KAHALUU SERIES

The Kahaluu series consists of very shallow, well drained soils that formed in organic material overlying pahoehoe lava. Kahaluu soils are on high elevation windward northeasterly slopes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes and have slopes of 2 to 20 percent. Mean annual rainfall is about 3048 millimeters (120 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 14 degrees C. (57 degrees F.).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, isomesic Lithic Udifolists

TYPICAL PEDON: Kahaluu highly decomposed plant material under ohia lehua/fern forest on a 3 percent slope at an elevation of 1463 meters (4800 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. When described on March 19th 2003, the soil was moist throughout. All textures are apparent field textures. pH was measured using organic dyes.)

Oa--0 to 19 centimeters (0 to 8 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) highly decomposed plant material very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, non sticky, slightly plastic; many fine roots; common fine tubular pores; very strongly acid (pH 4.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 51 centimeters (2 to 20 inches) thick)

2R--19 centimeters (8 inches); pahoehoe lava.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii; From Hilo follow highway 11 to the village of Mountain View. Turn right (north) on North Kulani road and proceed to dead end at Stainback highway. Turn left (west) on Stainback highway and proceed approximately 11 miles to Kulani correctional facility boundary fence. Follow fence line south .25 miles. Turn due west and proceed 150 feet to Kulani Quadrangle - 19 degrees 33 minutes 15.3 seconds north latitude and 155 degrees 17 minutes 20.1 seconds west longitude (Old Hawaiian Datum, 12 ft; measured by Garmin GPS).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to pahoehoe lava ranges from 5 to 51 centimeters (2 to 20 inches).
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent in the control section.
Soil Reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid
Soil moisture: The soil is typically moist throughout the profile. Precipitation exceeds evapotransporation in all months of normal years.

Oa horizon
Texture: highly decomposed plant material or cobbly highly decomposed plant material
Chroma: 1 or 2

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Kahaluu soils are on high, windward northeasterly mountain slopes of Mauna Loa at elevations of 1,372 to 2,133 meters (4,500 to 7,000 feet). The slopes range from 2 to 20 percent. Mean annual rainfall is 1905 to 4064 millimeters (75 to 160 inches), with about 75 percent of the rainfall occurring between October and April. Mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1,016 to 1,397 millimeters (40 to 55 inches).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Lalaau, Kulani, and Keamoku soils. Lalaau and Keamoku soils are underlain by fragmental `a`a lava. Kulani soils have a thin placic horizon and are formed in volcanic cinder.

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

USE AND VEGETATION: Most of these soils are in woodland. A few areas are used for pasture. Natural vegetation is ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), treefern (Cibotium spp.), amaumau fern (Sadleria cyatheoides), uluhe fern (Dicranopteris spp.), and puakiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Island of Hawaii. This series is of moderate extent comprising about 49,000 acres. MLRA 160.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: County of Hawaii, Hawaii, 1971.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features (9th edition, Keys to Soil Taxonomy) recognized in this pedon are:

Sapric soil materials from 0 to 20 centimeters (0 to 8 inches)
Ochric epipedon from 0 to 19 centimeters (0 to 8 inches)
Lithic contact - at a depth of 19 centimeters (8 inches) (R horizon).
Soil moisture-not dry in some or all parts for 90 days or more in most years and precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration in all months of normal years (perudic moisture regime).

Last revised 05/09 Type location moved from saddle road area to Kulani prison area 01/03, PGN

---

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.