Who owned the land in ancient Hawaii?
The concept of private property did not exist in Hawaii. The kings were the sovereign owners of all land which was in turn controlled by the ali`i nui or high chiefs and maintained or cultivated by the kanaka or commoners. This system of land use and control is called feudal system.
What is the Hawaiian land management system?
Early Hawaiians instead adhered to an efficient and sustainable land management system called Ahupua’a – wedge-shaped sections of land that generally stretched from the mountains to the sea. Each was carefully designed to provide the within its borders the natural resources that a community needed to meet its own needs.
Who owned the land and who managed the land according to the 1840 Constitution?
the king
The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii established a constitutional monarchy. It stipulated that the land belonged to its people and was to be managed by the king. It established the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
Which Hawaiian land division is the Kingdom of the Gods?
Mauka: Cultural Significance There is a long history of historical and cultural significance of lands throughout this archipelago. Hawaiians recognize two major ecological zones, the wao kanaka, or realm of man, and the wao akua, the realm of the gods. The wao kanaka are those areas where people live and work today.
Who owns most of the land in Hawaii?
The Hawaii State Government
The Hawaii State Government. Of the roughly 4 million acres of land in Hawaii, the state government owns most of it.
Why did foreigners want land in Hawaii?
The right to own land in Hawaiʻi was the primary demand of foreigners. They wanted to buy land but the land in Hawaiʻi had never been sold. These outsiders did not understand the Hawaiian attitude to the land. In their Western cultures, owning the land you lived on was a right.
Why was the country divided into Ahupua’a?
The size of the ahupua`a depended on the resources of the region with poorer agricultural regions divided into larger ahupua`a to compensate for the relative lack of natural abundance. Each ahupua`a was led by an ali`i or local chief and administered by a konohiki.
What is the meaning of Moku?
“Moku” is derived from the Hawaiian word for “island”, mokupuni. When they saw the Hawaiian island chain on the map, the team realized it was perfect.
How was the land divided during the mahele?
The Mahele granted 23% of the lands of the islands to the king (known as crown lands); 40% comprised konohiki land to be divided among 245 chiefs; and 37% was declared government land, to be allocated to commoners who worked the land as active tenants.
How did Hawaii benefit the United States?
A key supply location for American whalers, fertile ground for American Protestant missionaries, and a new source of sugar cane production, Hawaii’s economy became increasingly integrated with that of the United States.
How did the ancient Hawaiians control their territory?
The concept of private property was unknown to ancient Hawaiians, but they followed a complex system of land division. All land was ultimately controlled by the highest chief or king who held it in trust for the entire population. Who supervised these lands was appointed by the king according to his rank and position.
What has konohiki done for ahupua’a?
The konohiki oversaw communal work within the ahupua`a and also regulated the use of land, water, and oceans. Stewardship of the land and its resources was formalized through the kapu system.
Why was Kuleana important to Hawaiians?
The size of kuleana, like the size of ahupua`a, depended on the natural fertility and abundance of the land. The ancient ahupua`a, the basic self-sufficient unit, extended elements of Hawaiian spirituality into the natural landscape.
How are the islands of the Hawaiian Islands divided?
An entire island, or mokupuni, was divided into smaller parts, down to a basic unit belonging to a single family. Each mokupuni was divided into several moku, the largest units on each island, generally wedge-shaped and running from the mountain ridge to the shore.
