About the Hoolehua Plant Materials Center

Updated 12/03/2007

Description of the PMC Service Area

The area served by the Hoolehua PMC include the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, Islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the Republic of Belau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and American Samoa, all of which owe their shape primarily to volcanic building. The islands all have been modified by erosion under strongly localized conditions. Elevations vary from sea level to more than 10,000 feet above sea level.

Soils are derived from volcanic lava, eruptive deposits of ash, tuff and cinders, and limestone and alluvial deposits from coral reefs. Age and a variety of parent material, plus extreme ranges in rainfall, have resulted in a complexity of soil types.

Rainfall in our service area ranges from less than 10 inches to more than 390 inches annually. The driest areas are semi-desert.

Land use is diversified. Large acreages are devoted to ranching, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, coffee, and pineapple. Smaller acreages are used for truck crops, orchards and subsistence farming.

Getting to the Hoolehua PMC

The Hoolehua Plant Materials Center is located on Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands. Please contact the PMC for information on traveling to the PMC.

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