COM 0176.041 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The mean annual rainfall ranges from approximately 40 inches at sea level to about 80 inches at 3,000 feet elevation. Above the 3,000 feet level, rainfall gradually decreases from 80 inches to about 15 inches near the summit of Mauna Loa. Soils in the drainage area are dominated by well-drained, very shallow soils formed from organic matter over pahoehoe lava or fragmental as lava. The thickness of the organic layer increases with increasing rainfall but is generally less than 10 inches. The vegetatation consists of ohia, tree fern, koa, guava, Christmas berry, pasture grasses, coffee and macadamia nuts. The upper portion of the drainage area consists of nearly barren lava rocks, volcanic ash, pumice and cinders.' The natural vegetation consists of lichen, moss, ohia, amaumau fern, naio, Kentucky bluegrass, and sweet vernal. The middle portion of the watershed has small areas of volcanic ash soils interspersed among the thin organic soils. These volcanic ash soils vary in depth from 10 to 40 inches over pahoehoe or as lava. These are generally used for truck crops, pasture, coffee, and macadamia nut orchards. Development within the study area is concentrated along a strip of the Mamalahoa Highway connecting the urban centers of Kealakekua, Captain Cook, Honaunan and Kealia. These areas are oriented toward agriculture and commercial developments consisting primarily of general stores, service stations and supermarkets. Agriculture is the major industry within the area with cattle ranching, macadamia nuts, and coffee being the major enterprises. The climate is favorable for agriculture but soils and topography limit the amount of mechanization. Marketing problems, shortage of water, and shortage of labor have combined to limit the realization o~-the potential for agricultural production. Tha 1970 census estimated a population of 4,004 for South Kona. This population is expected to increase only slightly during the next 10 to 15 years. -4-