Best Soil for Gardening in Hawaii
Hawaii has 8 USDA soil survey areas, and they vary considerably in how friendly the ground is for growing things. We ranked every survey area by the percentage of well-drained soil — the single most important soil property for most garden plants.
At the top, Island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii has 99% well-drained soils — conditions where most vegetables, herbs, and flowers can thrive with basic soil preparation. At the other end, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii comes in at 34%, meaning more of the landscape has drainage challenges that may require raised beds, soil amendments, or careful site selection for a productive garden.
Remember that these are area-wide averages. Even in a low-ranking survey area, individual properties can have excellent garden soil. Look up your specific address for exact conditions.
| # | Survey Area | Well-Drained Soils | Dominant Drainage | Dominant Soil Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii | 99% | Well drained | Oxisols |
| 2 | Island of Lanai, Hawaii | 97% | Well drained | Oxisols |
| 3 | Island of Molokai, Hawaii | 92% | Well drained | Oxisols |
| 4 | Island of Oahu, Hawaii | 91% | Well drained | Mollisols |
| 5 | Island of Maui, Hawaii | 90% | Well drained | Mollisols |
| 6 | Island of Kauai, Hawaii | 88% | Well drained | Oxisols |
| 7 | Island of Hawaii Area, Hawaii | 79% | Well drained | Andisols |
| 8 | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii | 34% | Excessively drained | Andisols |