Do You Know the Name of Your State Soil? Hawaii's is...

While surfing on the net doing research for another blog post, I stumbled upon this information. I had no idea that Hawaii had an official dirt, or Hawaii official state soil. I thought it was unusual and that aina, the Hawaiian word for land, was so important to us culturally and socially that the state of Hawaii made up something special to honor it. However, after more digging around, the dirt I uncovered (sorry for the puns) is that each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. What is a State Soil?

A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These "Official State Soils" share the same level of distinction as official state flowers and birds. Also, representative soils have been selected for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Areas with similar soils are grouped and labeled as soil series because their similar origins, chemical, and physical properties cause the soils to perform similarly for land use purposes. A soil series name generally is derived from a town or landmark in or near the area where the soil was first recognized. NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

The official state soil of Hawaii is called Hilo Soil. The Hawaiian definition of the word “Hilo” is “first night of the full moon.” Also, the word is the Polynesian term for “Navigator.” Hilo is the main town located on the East side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Hilo soil covers about 14,500 acres and are considered prime agricultural land.

The Hilo soil series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in many layers of volcanic ash with lesser amounts of dust from the deserts of central Asia. These dust layers are noticeable because their gray color contrasts with the dark brown and dark reddish brown subsoil formed in volcanic ash. There are several buried layers within the Hilo soil profile. Hilo soils occur on the uplands of the Mauna Kea volcano along the Hamakua Coast. Wikipedia-Hilo Soil

I find all of this ironic because I live half an hour away from Hilo near Keaau, and have no soil to speak of what-so-ever. Although we live in an endemic Hawaiian Ohia tree rainforest, we have only 2-3 inches of "mucky muck" over an ancient lava flow. If you peel away the carpet of grass and weeds, you can actually see the beautiful cool black pahoehoe smooth, ropy, billowy lava flow surface underneath it!

Share the dirt about your state with us via a comment!

Official Representative and State Soils of the US--United States

Alabama - Bama

Alaska - Tanana

Arizona - Casa Grande

Arkansas - Stuttgart

California - San Joaquin

Colorado - Seitz

Connecticut - Windsor

Delaware - Greenwich

Florida - Myakka

Georgia - Tifton

Hawaii - Hilo

Idaho - Threebear

Illinois - Drummer

Indiana - Miami

Iowa - Tama

Kansas - Harney

Kentucky - Crider

Louisiana - Ruston

Maine - Chesuncook

Maryland - Sassafras

Massachusetts - Paxton

Michigan - Kalkaska

Minnesota - Lester

Mississippi - Natchez

Missouri - Menfro

Montana - Scobey

Nebraska - Holdrege

Nevada - Orovada

New Hampshire - Marlow

New Jersey - Downer

New Mexico - Penistaja

New York - Honeoye

North Carolina - Cecil

North Dakota - Williams

Ohio - Miamian

Oklahoma - Port

Oregon - Jory

Pennsylvania - Hazleton

Puerto Rico - Bayamon

Rhode Island - Narragansett

South Carolina - Bohicket

South Dakota - Houdek

Tennessee - Dickson

Texas - Houston Black

Utah - Mivida

Vermont - Tunbridge

Virgin Islands - Victory

Virginia - Pamunkey

Washington - Tokul

West Virginia - Monongahela

Wisconsin - Antigo

Wyoming - Forkwood

Comments

[Sheila]

That's interesting that there are state soils. I don't know how they could select just one type of soil for NC as there are at least 3 very distinct types. Our soil here in the center of the state is red clay. We have to amend the soil with lots of organic matter or bring in top soil in order to plant any flowers and shrubs. In the mountains it's more like regular fertile loose soil - not the clay that we have here. Nearer the coast (in the Sand Hills), they have a sand in their soil. NC is really a diverse state.

[Ken]

Hi Cheryl & Steve,

Official state dirt is very cool. But does your state have an official pie? Here in Florida we do.

While our legislature couldn't find the time to pass an election finance reform measure or set up health insurance for the poor they did have time to debate what the official pie would be. They decided. It is -- Key Lime Pie. Yum.

We are back from the cruise and will be reading and commenting on your lovely blog again. You can read all about the cruise and see pics of it at my blog.
Ken

[HawaiiVacationGifts]

Sheila,
North Carolina's diversity sounds lovely. Different soils grow different things.

Ken,
I knew you were going to say Key Lime Pie, that is what Florida is famous for! I don't think Hawaii has an official pie, but I bet our politicians would love to debate about it instead of dealing with other more important matters.

[Bobbie]

This was a revelation to me. I never knew there was such a thing as state soil. Next time I'm in Hilo, I'll have to grab a sample to see how it compares with the soil here in Kohala. I know one thing: our volcanic soil is exceptionally rich. We like to say that gardening is easy here: just add water!

[HawaiiVacationGifts]

Hi Bobbie,
Kohala is beautiful. I would love to live there and do organic gardening.