LOCATION KAPAPALA HI

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

KAPAPALA SERIES

The Kapapala series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in basic volcanic ash deposited over pahoehoe lava. Kapapala soils are on ashfields and have slopes of 2 to 40 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 1524 millimeters (60 inches), and the mean annual air temperature is about 15 degrees C. (59 degrees F.).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial, amorphic, isothermic Humic Haplustands

TYPICAL PEDON: Kapapala medial loam on an south-east facing, 2 percent slope in upland pasture at an elevation of 1185 meters (3,880 feet). (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured using an Oakton microprocessor based pH meter, 1:1 soil to water ratio. When described on October 05, 2005, the soil was moist from 0 to 110 cm (0 to 43 inches).

A--0 to 7 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); black (10YR2/1) medial loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; common very fine vesicular pores; weakly smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 11 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) thick)

Bw--7 to 23 centimeters (3 to 9 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) medial sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine vesicular pores; weakly smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 19 centimeters (5 to 8 inches) thick)

2C--23 to 33 centimeters (9 to 13 inches); black (7.5YR 2.5/1)ashy course sand, very dark grey (7.5YR3/1) dry; single grain; loose, non sticky and non plastic; few fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; non smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 14 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) thick)

3Bw2--33 to 54 centimeters (13 to 21 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) medial loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) dry; weak fine subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few fine irregular pores; weakly smeary; neutral (pH 7.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 21 centimeters (3 to 9 inches) thick)

3Bw3--54 to 74 centimeters (21 to 29 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) medial sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) dry; weak medium subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; weakly smeary; 2 percent subrounded paragravels and 2 percent subangular charcoal; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (18 to 37 centimeters) 7 to 15 inches thick)

3Bw4--74 to 110 centimeters (29 to 43 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) medial loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) dry; moderate coarse subangular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 2 percent subrounded paragravels; neutral (pH 7.3). (10 to 16 inches thick)

4R--110 centimeters (43 inches); pahoehoe lava.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii; from the entrance to Volcanoes National Park, follow Highway 11 to the west about 11 miles to Ainahou trail and entrance to Kapapala ranch. Follow the jeep trail along Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. At approximately 1.5 miles trail forks. Follow the southerly fork, Peter Lee Road, approximately 3.4 miles to type location 19 degrees, 23 minutes, and 54.1 seconds north, 155 degrees, 21 minutes, and 22.5 west, Old Hawaiian datuum. (Old Hawaiian Datum, 12 ft; measured by Garmin GPS).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 100 to 145 centimeters (40 to 57 inches)
Soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C. (59 to 64 degrees F.)
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to cobbles

A horizons
Texture: Highly organic medial loam or medial loam

Bw horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist
Texture: Medial loam, medial silt loam, medial sandy loam or cindery silt loam.

C horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 to 3
Texture: Ashy fine sand or ashy course sand

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Kamakoa, Kamaoa, Kikoni, Kula, Kiolakaa, and Waimea series. Kamakoa soils are alluvial soils. Kamaoa soils lack a buried B horizon with strong structure. Kikoni soils are on Mauna Kea and Kohala landscapes. Kula soils have weak structure in the A horizon and moderate structure in the upper part of the B horizon. Kiolakaa soils are moderately deep to bedrock. Waimea soils have weak structure in the A horizon and lack a buried B horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kapapala soils are on ashfields that are on Mauna Loa lava flows 2,000 to 10,000 years old at elevations of 914 to 1,356 meters (3,000 to 4,500 feet). Slopes range from 2 to 40 percent. Mean annual rainfall is 1,500 to 1,778 millimeters (50 to 70 inches), with about 75 percent of the rainfall occurring between October and April. Mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1,270 to 1,524 millimeters (50 to 60 inches). The mean annual air temperature is 14 to 18 degrees C. (57 to 65 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nanaia and Ohaikea soils. Nania soils have lithic contact within 51 centimeters (20 inches). Ohaikea soils are moderately deep to bedrock.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Soils are well drained. Runoff is moderate to high. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing, forestland, and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum), koa (Acacia koa), ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), aalii (Dodonaea viscosa) and hapuu pulu tree fern (Cibotium glaucum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kau district, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 160. The series is of small extent, approximately 1,300 acres.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Soil Survey, Territory of Hawaii, 1949.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features (9th edition, Keys to Soil Taxonomy) recognized in this pedon are:
Lithic contact - at 110 centimeters (43 inches).
Andic soil properties - from the soil surface to 110 centimeters (43 inches).
Umbric epipedon - from the soil surface to 23 centimeters (9 inches).
Soil moisture-usually moist, but dry in some or all parts for short intermittent periods totaling 90 days or more (Ustic moisture regime).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 06HI602301.

Last revised by state on 12/09.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.