The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-02-28
HONESTEADS FOR HlH AIIANS
[PIanters, AIonthly tor Februarr. |

Among the questions brought into
prominence by recent events is that
of the disposition of the Royal Do
main or Crown Lands, in which the
agricultural interests of the kingdom
are deeply concerned. They comprise
that portion of the land reserved by
Kamehameha III. for himself when
he relinquished the ownership of
portion each to the Government, the
chiefs and the people. His interest
in these lands descended to his sue
cessors on the throne, who enjoyed
the income derived from them; and
when from any cause the throne be
comes vacant or Is abolished, this
Royal Domain must naturally become
the property of the nation.
The Crown Lands comprise about
one million acres, including some of
the best tracts in the kingdom. Many
of them are under lease at merely
nominal rentals, and as these leases
expire the demand for them will
greatly increase their value and rem
tai also. The income now is prob
ably about $4,000 per annum, but
they will ultimately yield revenue
of fully double that sum, and this
within a very few years.
The present would seem to be a
most opportune time to bestow on
the native Hawaiian people right
royal benefsction by granting home
steads to all such as are destitute of
land or homes. This may be done
though the Grown Lands Commits
sion awarding small tracts to such as
need homesteads, under some uni
form and equitable plan that may be
adopted, as outlined below.
l. Give to each native Hawaiian
head of a family-male or female
who is not already a landholder, and
to every voter who is not a land
holder, a tract of from five to twenty
acres, to be designated homestead
or kuleana.
2. These homesteads to be located
on unoccupied land, or on leased land
when the lessee is willing to have
them located on it, as he might be
were the applicants already living on
! it.
3. This award to be given to the
grantee and his lawful heirs on con
dition that it shall be inalienable by
sale, gift or otherwise. Also, that it
shall never be encountered by debt
of any kind.
4. Whenever the homestead shall
cease to be occupied by the grantee
or by his lawful heir or agent, it shall
revert to the Government and be-
come, as before, part of the public
domain.
The chief object is to provide
home for every family of the aborigi
nal race and for every industrious
Hawaiian who is voter, as gift
from the nation that can never be en-
numbered by debt or otherwise, or
alienated in any manner whatever.
The changes soon to take place here
call for the adoption of some pro
vision of this kind, and every friend
of the native race will rejoice to see
such provision of that will secure
to them and their posterity home
from which they can never be driven.
1t may be that some unworthy per
sons might secure homesteads in this
distribution, but no matter if they do;
it may serve as a means of reforma
ton if such descendants of noble
race are saved from want and there
by made industrious and happy.
Another gain would be the better dis
tribution of native families in the
country districts, where labor is al
ways wanted, whereas now the drift
is towards the villages and settle
ments.
Many points will naturally be
raised in connection with this pro
position, for it is advanced chiefly
with the view of calling attention to
it and studying its merits and prac
ticability. There are men among US
who are capable of devising safe
guards which will render these ma
tional homestead gifts blessing to
the recipients by securing homes to
them and their posterity.
If this plan can be carried out so
as to provide to every household a
home of its own, it would create a
friendship between the native and
the foreigner stronger than any that
now exists. In the rush of adven-
turers which is likely to follow the
present political crisis, justice de
mands that we should protect the
aborigines by securing to them, as
far as in our power, perpetual fran
chise in the land of their own heri
tage, and while it assists to secure
them health, comfort and happiness,
it will be perpetual token Of the
good will of those whose forethought
secured it to them.