Hawaii Soil Drainage Rankings
How well does the soil drain across Hawaii? We ranked every USDA survey area by the percentage of land classified as "well drained." Areas at the top of the list have soils where water moves through at a healthy rate — favorable for building, septic, and gardening. Areas at the bottom have more waterlogged or slowly-draining soils that may require engineered solutions.
The best-drained survey area is Island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii at 99% well-drained soils. The most drainage-challenged is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii at 29%.
| # | Survey Area | Well Drained | Poorly Drained | Dominant Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Island of Kahoolawe, Hawaii | 99% | 0% | Well drained |
| 2 | Island of Lanai, Hawaii | 97% | 0% | Well drained |
| 3 | Island of Molokai, Hawaii | 92% | 5% | Well drained |
| 4 | Island of Maui, Hawaii | 90% | 1% | Well drained |
| 5 | Island of Oahu, Hawaii | 89% | 3% | Well drained |
| 6 | Island of Kauai, Hawaii | 88% | 8% | Well drained |
| 7 | Island of Hawaii Area, Hawaii | 70% | 1% | Well drained |
| 8 | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii | 29% | 2% | Excessively drained |