LOCATION OHAIKEA                 HI

Established Series
Rev. PGN
06/2012

OHAIKEA SERIES

The Ohaikea series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in basic volcanic ash deposited over pahoehoe lava. Ohaikea soils are located on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa volcano. Slopes range from 2 to 70 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 Typic Haplustands

TYPICAL PEDON: Ohaikea highly organic medial loam, range with aalii shrubs on a 5 percent slope at an elevation of 1,372 meters (4,500 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. When described on 12/14/05 the soil was moist throughout. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH was measured using an Oakton microprocessor based pH tester, 1:1 soil to water.)

A--0 to 7 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); black (10YR 2/1) highly organic medial loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; moderate very fine granular structure; soft, friable, non sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; common fine irregular pores; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 22 centimeters (2 to 9 inches) thick)

2A--7 to 16 centimeters (3 to 6 inches); black (10YR 2/1) medial loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 2 percent subrounded gravel sized pumice; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 centimeters (2 to 10 inches) thick)

2Bw--16 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) medial sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) dry; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 2 percent subrounded gravel sized pumice; weakly smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 14 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) thick)

2Bw2--30 to 41 centimeters (12 to 16 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) medial sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many very fine irregular tubular pores; 10 percent subrounded gravel sized pumice; weakly smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 6 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) thick)

3A--41 to 49 centimeters (16 to 19 inches); black (10YR 2/1) medial silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 11 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) thick)

3Bw1--49 to 58 centimeters (19 to 23 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) medial loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) dry; moderate very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 10 percent subrounded gravel sized pumice; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 10 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) thick)

4A--58 to 75 centimeters (23 to 30 inches); black (10YR 2/1) medial silt loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 2 percent subrounded gravel sized pumice and 2 percent subangular cobble; moderately smeary; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 17 centimeters (2 to 7 inches) thick)

5R--75 centimeters (30 inches); hard, massive pahoehoe lava.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii; from State Highway 11 in Kau travel north-west on Mauna Loa Scenic Road approximately 5.5 miles to the second cattle grate; turn south-east on to Power Line road and proceed 1.5 mile to gate for Kapapala ranch. Go through gate and proceed 400 ft. Park and walk due east 170 feet to type location; Kilauea Crater Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 26 minutes 27.5 seconds N and long. 155 degrees 21 minutes 07.5 seconds W. (Old Hawaiian Datum; measured by Garmin GPS)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 53 to 99 centimeters (21 to 39 inches)
Soil temperature: 15 to 18 degrees C.(59-64 degrees F.)
Rock fragments: 15 to 30 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to cobbles

A horizons
Hue: 10YR or 2.5 N
Texture: Highly organic medial loam, medial loam, medial silt loam or medial sandy loam
Wet consistence: Nonsticky or slightly sticky, and nonplastic or slightly plastic

Bw horizons
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 or 2.5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3 moist
Texture: Medial loam, medial loam, medial silt loam, medial sandy loam, or medial loamy sand.
Wet consistence: Nonsticky or slightly sticky, and nonplastic or slightly plastic

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Pane series. Pane soils are deep.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ohaikea soils are on Mauna Loa `a`a flows 3,000 to 8,000 years old at elevations of 914 to 1,356 meters (3,000 to 4,500 feet). Slopes range from 2 to 70 percent. Mean annual rainfall is 1,500 to 1778 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 centimeters (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 Kapapala soils. Nania soils have lithic contact within 51 centimeters (20 inches). Kapapala soils are deep or very deep.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Soils are well drained. Runoff is low. Permeability is moderately rapid or rapid.

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 or tree fern (Cibotium glaucum).

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

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii, 2012. Proposed 2006. Series is of small extent.

REMARKS: Soil moisture-usually moist, but dry in some or all parts for short intermittent periods totaling 90 days or less (Ustic moisture regime).
Diagnostic horizons and features (11th edition, Keys to Soil Taxonomy) recognized in this pedon are:
Lithic contact - at 75 centimeters (30 inches).
Andic soil properties - from the soil surface to 75 centimeters (30 inches).
Umbric epipedon - from the soil surface to 49 centimeters (19 inches).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 06HI602308.

EDIT LOG: Last revised by state on 5/09 replaced "mucky" modifiers with "highly organic" PGN

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.