At the same time that the Hawaiian Kingdom was addressing distribution of lands to the King, Chiefs and Maka‘āinana in the Great Māhele, they were also looking at land for the missionaries. Privy Council minutes note, “Some conversation then took place on the expediency and policy of granting lands to Missionaries at a price cheaper than lands are disposed of to other parties.” (Privy Council Minutes, November 23, 1849)
Non-Hawaiians were not permitted to own lands until 1850. In that year, the Privy Council noted “the important services of the missionaries” and determined that “as a bare acknowledgment of these services, every individual missionary who may have served eight years on the Islands, whether Protestant or Catholic, who does not already hold five hundred and sixty acres of land, shall be allowed to purchase land to that extent at a deduction of fifty cents on every acre from the price that could be obtained from lay purchasers …” They were also exempt from paying certain taxes and fees.
