LOCATION NAWAHINE HI

Established Series
MRK-RTG
06/2012

NAWAHINE SERIES

The Nawahine series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in basic volcanic ash and cinders. Slopes range from 20 to 50 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 580 millimeters (23 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 12 degrees C (54 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial-skeletal over fragmental or cindery, amorphic over mixed, isomesic Humic Ustivitrands

TYPICAL PEDON: Nawahine gravelly medial silt loam, on an east facing, convex, 36 percent slope under pasture, at an elevation of 1305 meters (4280 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured with organic dyes. When described on July 29, 1996, the soil was dry throughout.)

A--0 to 13 centimeters (0 to 5 inches); black (10YR 2/1) gravelly medial silt loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) dry; strong fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; nonsmeary; few very fine and fine roots; 30 percent gravel-size cinders; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (10 to 15 centimeters {4 to 6 inches} thick)

Bw1/2C1--13 to 20 centimeters (5 to 8 inches); dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) very gravelly medial silt loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) dry; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; nonsmeary; common very fine and fine, and few medium roots; 45 percent gravel-size cinders and 10 percent angular `a`a cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); the 2C part of this horizon consists of cinders and unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments; clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 centimeters {2 to 4 inches} thick)

2C2/Bw2--20 to 50 centimeters (8 to 20 inches); dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) extremely gravelly medial sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) dry; single grain; loose when dry or moist, nonsticky and nonplastic; nonsmeary; common very fine and fine roots; 65 percent gravel-size cinders and 20 percent angular `a`a cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); the 2C part of this horizon consists of cinders and unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments; clear smooth boundary.

2C3--50 to 114 centimeters (20 to 45 inches); black (N 2/0) and dark red (10R 3/6) loose cinders; common very fine and fine roots; 60 percent gravel-size cinders and 30 percent angular `a`a cobbles; clear smooth boundary.

2C4--114 to 203 centimeters (45 to 80 inches); black (N 2/0) and dark red (10R 3/6) loose cinders; common very fine and fine roots; 80 percent gravel-size cinders and 10 percent angular `a`a cobbles. (Combined thickness of the 2C horizon ranges from 152 to 183 centimeters {60 to 72 inches}.)

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii; from Puu Waawaa Ranch headquarters, drive west 0.6 miles on 4WD road, turn south at fence line, and drive 2.1 miles to Potato Hill; pedon is located 5 meters (15 feet) west of 4WD road. Hualalai Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 44 minutes 23.7 seconds N. and 155 degrees 50 minutes 41.3 seconds W. (GPS/PLGR; Old Hawaiian Datum)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: More than 152 centimeters (60 inches).
Mean annual soil temperature: 11 to 15 degrees C (52 to 59 degrees F).
Rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to cobble size cinders.

A horizon
Hue: 5YR to 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist or dry.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist, 2 or 3 dry.
Texture: Medial silt loam or gravelly medial silt loam.
Structure: Weak to strong granular.
Wet consistence: Nonsticky or slightly sticky, and nonplastic or slightly plastic.
Soil reaction: Slightly acid or neutral (pH 6.1 to 7.3).

Bw horizon
Value: 2 or 3 moist, 3 or 4 dry.
Chroma: 2 to 4 moist or dry.
Texture: Very or extremely gravelly medial silt loam.
Structure: Weak or moderate subangular blocky.
Soil reaction: Neutral or slightly alkaline (pH 6.6 to 7.8).

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Similar soils include the Huikau and Ohianui series. Huikau soils have an ashy sandy loam surface texture. Ohianui soils have a lithic contact at a depth of 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches) and are ashy over cindery.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nawahine soils are associated with cinder cones on the upper slopes of Hualalai Volcano at elevations from 1164 to 2521 meters (3820 to 8271 feet). These soils are on hillslope positions of constructional landscapes consisting of steep to very steep cinder cones and lava flows 1,500 to 3,000 years old. Slope gradients range from 20 to 50 percent. The soils formed in basic volcanic ash and cinders. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 510 to 1270 centimeters (20 to 50 inches). The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1020 to 1780 millimeters (40 to 70 inches). The mean annual temperature ranges from 10 to 14 degrees C (50 to 57 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 Halekula, Huikau, Kamawai, Nenenui, Ohianui and Puuiki series. Halekula soils are medial-skeletal and have a lithic contact at 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches). Huikau soils have a loamy sand surface texture and are ashy over cindery. Kamawai soils are organic soils over `a`a lava. Nenenui soils have a lithic contact at 5 to 25 centimeters (2 to 10 inches). Ohianui soils have a lithic contact from 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches) and are ashy over cindery. Puuiki soils are organic soils over pahoehoe lava.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium. Permeability is moderately rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for wildlife habitat. The natural vegetation is kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum), koa (Acacia koa), ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), and brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North Kona District, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 161B. The series is of small extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, 2011. Proposed 1997.

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

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 20 centimeters (0 to 8 inches) (A and Bw1 horizons).
Andic soil properties - from 0 to 50 centimeters (0 to 20 inches) (A, Bw1, 2C1/Bw2 horizons).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 01HI601020. NSSL sample S94HI-001-013.

Edit log: 2/08 MRK. Andic textural modifiers added and minor edits made.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.