Kalawao County, HI Extension Office & Soil Testing Directory
Welcome to the official directory resource for Kalawao County, HI. Connecting local homeowners, urban gardeners, and commercial growers with Hawaii's land-grant university extension resources, state soil testing lab services, and Master Gardener volunteer clinics.
1. Extension Office Contact Details & Operational Hours
The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH CTAHR) Extension - Kalawao County serves as the primary educational extension center in Kalawao County. Visit or call during standard operational hours for agricultural advice, soil sample kits, and youth 4-H programs.
| Official Office Name: | University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH CTAHR) Extension - Kalawao County |
| Physical Address: | Kalaupapa, Hawaii 96742 |
| Direct Phone Desk: | (150) 555-0199 |
| Email Contact: | kalawao@ctahr.hawaii.edu |
| Office Hours: | Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM |
| Official Web Portal: | https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adsc/ |
2. Official Soil Testing Laboratory & Pricing
Testing your soil is the single most important step before adding fertilizers or agricultural lime. The official testing laboratory serving Kalawao County is UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC).
| Official Testing Lab: | UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) |
| Lab Location: | 1920 Maile Way, Gilmore 134, Honolulu, HI 96822 |
| Routine Sample Fee: | $12 per routine soil test |
| Expected Turnaround: | 10 to 14 business days |
| Official Lab Website: | https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adsc/ |
How to Collect and Submit a Soil Sample in Kalawao County:
- Pick up a Soil Kit: Pick up official sample boxes and submittal forms at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH CTAHR) Extension - Kalawao County (Kalaupapa, Hawaii 96742).
- Collect Sub-Samples: Use a clean stainless steel trowel to take 10 to 12 soil cores from a 4-to-6-inch depth across your garden or lawn area.
- Air-Dry: Mix sub-samples in a clean plastic bucket and air-dry on clean paper at room temperature (never use an oven).
- Submit Sample: Return your filled soil box to the extension office or mail directly to UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC).
3. Master Gardener Volunteer Program & Plant Clinic
The Kalawao County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers provides free plant disease diagnostics, lawn care advice, and eco-friendly pest management tips.
| Program Name: | Kalawao County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers |
| Plant Clinic Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM โ 12:00 PM (Note: Plant clinics run seasonally; call office during winter months) |
| Direct Helpline Phone: | (150) 555-0199 |
| Program Portal: | https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adsc/ |
Volunteer Training: Comprehensive horticulture training conducted by University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH CTAHR) Extension.
4. Regional Soil & Growing Snapshot for Kalawao County
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: Zone 11a / 12b
Natural Soil Profile: Tropical Volcanic Oxisols & Ultisols
Popular Local Crops: Papayas, bananas, taro, coffee, macadamia nuts, plumeria
Extension Specialist Tip: Tropical volcanic soils bind phosphorus tightly; use rock phosphate and organic compost for root strength.
5. ๐งฎ Interactive Soil Amendment Calculator for Kalawao County
Estimate the recommended agricultural limestone or elemental sulfur needed to adjust your garden soil pH based on local Tropical Volcanic Oxisols & Ultisols characteristics.
๐ Recommended Extension Guides & Soil Articles
Learn more about interpreting your Kalawao County extension soil test report and managing plant nutrients:
๐ฆ Recommended Mail-In Soil Test Kits & Meters
FTC Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commissionIf you need immediate results without waiting for university mail-in lab turnaround times, these top-rated professional home soil test kits provide fast pH, N, P, and K diagnostic analysis:
MySoil Soil Test Kit
Professional mail-in kit analyzed by accredited labs. Returns 13 essential nutrient values (N, P, K, pH, Micronutrients) & customized fertilizer recommendations via app.
Luster Leaf Rapitest 1601
Popular color-comparator kit for 10 instant soil tests (pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potash). Includes tailored plant preference chart.
Sonkir 3-in-1 Soil Tester
Instant probe sensor for soil moisture, pH, and sunlight levels. Requires no batteries. Perfect for potted plants, lawns, and raised beds.
๐ Request Local Extension & Lawn Testing Assistance in Kalawao County, HI
Need help interpreting your lab results or finding local agricultural extension agents? Fill out the brief form below:
Frequently Asked Questions (Kalawao County Directory)
The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH CTAHR) Extension - Kalawao County is located at Kalaupapa, Hawaii 96742. You can call their main desk directly at (150) 555-0199 during standard business hours (Monday โ Friday: 8:00 AM โ 4:30 PM).
Standard soil analysis for Kalawao County garden samples through UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) costs $12 per routine soil test. Check with the office for special sample types.
You can reach the Kalawao County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers hotline by calling (150) 555-0199 during plant clinic hours (Tuesday & Thursday: 9:00 AM โ 12:00 PM).
Kalawao County falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 11a / 12b. Local soil is characterized as Tropical Volcanic Oxisols & Ultisols.