August 6, 1850: Granting to the Common People Allodial Titles

The Kuleana Act of August 6, 1850 is a foundational law relating to native tenant rights. It authorized the Land Commission to award fee-simple title to native tenants for their own plots of land or kuleana parcels. A kuleana parcel could originate from lands of the king, government, or chiefs. A portion of this law and a short transcription may be found below:

Available in Statutes, He Kanawai Hoopai Karaima, 1850.

He Kanawai

E hoopaa ana i ke kekahi mau olelo ae like i hooholoia e ke alii iloko o ka aha kukakuka malu, a ma ka la 21 o Dekemaba, M.H. 1849, e haawi ana i na kuleana aina alodio i na makaainana, a me kekahi mau pauku hou no na kahuahale a me kekahi mau pono e ae.

E hooholoia e na Lii o ka Ahaolelo a me ka Poeikohoia o ko Hawaii Pae Aina, i akoakoa e kau Kanawai.

O na olelo ae like i kakauia malalo nei, i hooholoia e ke Alii iloko o ka Aha kukakuka Malu ma ka la 21 o Dekemaba, M.H. 1849, i ka wa i akoakoa ole ai ka Ahaolelo, a me kekahi mau Pauku hou i hookomoia e ka Ahaolelo; a penei, ua Kanawai la:

1. E haawiia me ka uku ole ka palapala alodio i na makaainana a pau, no ko lakou mau kuleana aina ponoi, ma na aina o ke Aupuni, ma kahi a lakou i noho ai, a i mahi iho ai, a ua hookoia no lakou keia mau kuleana e ka poe hoona kuleana. Aole nae i pili keia olelo i na Konohiki a me na kanaka e ae e malama nei i na aina o ke Aupuni. Aole hoi i pili i na pahale a me na apana aina e ae me ke Kuleana o ke Aupuni iloko ma Honolulu, Lahaina a me Hilo.