The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-06-24
EXHAUSTIVE WORK OF
SURVEY DEPARTMENT
Territorial Surveyor Wall Gives Valuable Data
For the Use of the Governor While
In the East.

Territorial Surveyor Walter e. Wall
presides over a bureau OF the govern
ment of which little is heard or men
toned, but it is one which has impor-
tant matters to adjust. Recent reports
of the Surveyor to the Governor which
were taken by him on his latest trip to
Washington, give in detail the large
amount of work carried on in this de-
partment.
The Hawaiian territory survey was
primarily and is still mainly cadas-
trail survey. Under the direction of
Prof. Alexander, who was surveyor
general from 1871 to January 81, 1901,
the department has accomplished much
of the main object for which 1t was
organized, the locating on general maps
the original titles issued by the govern
ment.
The history of land transactions is
given in the report which, in part, is as
follows:
Owing to the complicated system of
land division in the different Islands
of Hawaii and the irregular formation
or nature of the country, 1T requires
more than mere knowledge of engineer
ing principles to make survey that
will establish accurately the bounda-
ries of the Government and private
lands. Complications often arise that
make surveys slow and costly, and it
often requires patience and painstak-
ing efforts on the part of the surveyor
in running out or re-establishing the
boundaries of the old surveys. The
data furnished for the purpose of de-
terminng the magnetic declination,
and the rate of change from year to
year to assist in making these surveys,
has been of much value.
This will be better understood from
the following mention of the original
claims and divisions of the lands: The
land was originally held by the Ha-
waiians in such manner as the chiefs
or kings permitted, and the ownership
was continued by them when the Gov
eminent issued titles.
The primary division Of the land was
the "ahupuaa." This as a general rule
took the form of a long strip running
from the sea shore to the mountains,
the object being to give the chief who
held it with the approval of the reign
ing sovereign, the various products of
the sea and the soil. The tenants I'M
der the chiefs occupied their small lots
with more or less permanence by rend-
ering military and agricultural SER
vice as circumstances required.
1t is therefore seen that the lands
We're originally held under a regular
system.
liuicinr nj n 20
during the reign of Kamehameha III
in 1Si6-1S49, the records of which
briefly stated. show the following:
/. Certain lands which We're owned
or reserved by the king, We're for a
time treated as private property. An
act of the Legislature of 1864, made
these inalienable public lands known
as Grown Lands" the revenue of
which was to go to the reigning sover-
eign.
2. The chiefs retained ownership to
the better part Of the ahupuaas which
had been held by them in fief.
3. The common people We're given
fee simple title to such small lots with
in the ahupuaas as they had occupied
and improved. The number of these
lllltS was oNtl ll,uNu VI tbSiii
covered several separate lots. These
lots are commonly referred to as ku-
leanas, though they are recorded as
Land Commission Awards"
4. The remaining lands, most of
which We're given up by the chiefs in
communication for the requirement of
title to the lands retained, constitute
the Government lands.
8. Portions OF the Government lands
(No. ~, sold since the above division,
are known as Royal Patents" and
Grants"
The Government grants issued prior
to the beginning of the Survey Depart
ment numbered about 5000
Perhaps a fair estimate of the num-
Der of ahupuaas would be about 1000.
These have subdivisions called Ills
which are not always held by the own
er of the ahupuaa.
The above gives the main features of
the land system, though many details
are necessarily ommitted here for lack
OF space.
| Considering the fact that such de-
scriptiOns as We're incorporated in the
above titles We're magnetic spot SUR
veys, each quite independent OF the
other, and this, too, with the local at
traction prevalent every where, one
cannot help but realize what an ardu'
Gus work II has been Ia bring the map,
ping of these lands up TO the present
condition.
/ There were NO general surveys nl'
though the kuleanas Of few sections
Wrrr plated together Fortunately
rho names of tho ahuttmE land or own
.rr arc generally glNen. Most NJ ln.
.hrHrr lands ur Hhupuaas were award
.ed by name only Win the understand
Tins lhAt ihn Hrltut boundary shnu'.
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/ OWNS boz mn. many uHtHHl division
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