Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Figure 3-2. Soil map of the Kona Forest Unit.
Lava flows, ‘a‘ā (rLV):
‘A‘ā lava flows are found along the northern boundary of the KFU. This lava is rough, clinkery, and
“piled in tumbled heaps.” Only a thin layer of soil covers the lava allowing minimal vegetation
growth such as mosses, lichens, ferns, and scattered ‘ōhi‘a trees.
Lava flows, pāhoehoe (rLW):
Pāhoehoe lava generally has a smooth, glassy surface compared to ‘a‘ā lava. Pāhoehoe is hotter,
contains more trapped gasses, and flows faster than ‘a‘ā. This lava is lacking any soil covering
supports mainly mosses and lichens with scattered ‘ōhi‘a trees, ‘ōhelo, and ‘a‘ali‘i in cracks and
crevices.
Kēkake extremely rocky muck, 6-20 percent slopes (rKHD):
The Kēkake series are well-drained, thin organic soils underlain by pāhoehoe lava bedrock on
uplands between 3,500 - 7,000 ft. Approximately 25-50 percent of the surface area is rock outcrops.
The soil surface layer is black muck about 4 inches thick and strongly acid.
Māwae extremely stony muck, 6-20 percent slopes (rMWD):
The Māwae series consists of well-drained, thin organic soils over fragmented ‘a‘ā lava. This muck is
undulating on mountains between 3,500 - 7,000 ft. The surface layer is black extremely stony muck
about 5 in thick with a medium acidity.
Chapter 3. Physical Environment 3-7