The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-06-22

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 a 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 it was
organized, the locating on general maps
the original titles issued by the govern
Inent.
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, it 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-
termining 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
were originally held under a regular
system
The great land division took place
during the reign of Kamehameha III
in 1S46-1S49, the records of which
briefly stated, show the following:
1. Certain lands which were owned
or reserved by the king, were 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 were given |
fee simple title to such small lots with |
in the ahupuaas as they had occupied |
and improved. The number of these |
titles was over Il, 600 and many of them |
covered several separate lots. These !
lots are commonly referred to as ku-
eanas, though they are recorded as
Land Commission Awards
f. The remaining lands most of
which were given up by the chiefs in
,ommutation for the requirement of
title to the lands retained, constitute
he Government lands
5. Portions OF the Government lands
No. a. sold since the above division,
ire known as Royal Patents and
Grants"
The Government grants issued prior
o the beginning of the Survey Depart
nent, numbered about 5000
Perhaps a fair estimate of the num-
Ter of ahuDuaas would be about 1000.
These have subdivisions called Ills
which are not always held by the own
r of the ahupuaa.
The above gives the main features of
he land system, though many details
re necessarily ommitted here for lack
f space.
Considering the fact that such de-
criptions as were Incorporated in the
bove titles We're magnetic spot sur
eys, each quite Independent of the
Their. and this. too, with the local at
raction prevalent every where, one
annot help but realize what an ardu-
Us work it has been to bring the map
ing of these lands up TO the present
There were no general surveys al
lough the kGleanas of a few sections
ere plated together. Fortunately,
le names of the abutting land or own
: are generally given. Most of the
rger lands or ahupuaas were award
/ by name only. with the understand
e that the ancient boundary should
= preserved.
Owing TO the many natural divisions
sections established through the
rmation of the Islands. a great many
aps have been made considering the
ze of the country. The maps regist-
ed in the office number 1852.
,,r l.