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October 12, 2022 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Land Act of 1895

“From the time of the great division of 1848 to the present time the policy of the leasing lands for a term of years has been pursued, both in the case of the Government lands and of the Crown lands controlled by the commissioners for the same.”

“In 1876 the first law requiring sale of Government leases to be made at auction was enacted, but such law did not apply to the Crown lands, which were not put under this regulation until the passage of the land act of 1895.”

“Under the lease policy lands were freely leased both by the Government and by the Crown commissioners in large areas and for long terms…”

“… but in 1891 the Government, while continuing the policy of leasing land, improved upon former methods by reserving to itself the right to take up any portion of the leased land suitable for settlement, which reservation proved later of much value.”

“This policy was continued after the passage of the land act of 1895, but with stricter regard to amounts leased, terms of lease, and reservations necessary for public interest.” (USDA, Stubbs, 1901)

“The first homestead act to acquire small holdings was passed in 1884. It was amended several times, but remained in force until the passage of the land act of 1895.”

“It gave the privilege of acquiring lots not over 20 acres in extent, payable in ten years, and requiring the erection of a dwelling and a residence of three years on the land.”

“A substitute might reside on land with the consent of the minister of the interior, as amended in 1892. Under these homestead laws 527 persons took up 8,490.81 acres … of which patents have been granted to 377 persons for 5,820.76 acres … leaving the remainder yet to be patented.”

“Under the amendment ‘without residence’ there have been taken up 3,552.84 acres … of which 2,942.44 acres …have been patented.”

“The results of these homestead laws were beneficial in placing homes, which have been greatly improved, into the possession of numerous families of moderate means. They did not, however, meet all of the requirements, hence these laws were supplanted by the land act of 1895.” (USDA, Stubbs, 1901)

“The idea of the legislature in creating these leases was clearly to encourage settlement and residence upon the lands of the government. It was not for the purpose of allowing persons to obtain farming lands at easy rates, but for the purpose of creating small farm homesteads where the parties would engage in farming and agricultural pursuits and increase the number of thrifty citizens in the Territory.”

“If a settler prefers to take one of these leases, he must expect to live up to the terms of same as laid down in his lease, and any man who can read and write, can understand the conditions therein set forth.” (Hilo Tribune, September 27, 1904)

“In 1895, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Hawaii, passed the Land Act (Act of August 14, 1895, Act 26, [1895] Hawaii Laws Spec. Sess. 49-83). In this act, three types of homestead agreements were defined: (1) the Homestead lease; (2) the Right of Purchase Lease; and (3) the Cash Freehold Agreement.”

“The Homestead Lease was for a term of 999 years, and was issued after the applicants complied with terms and conditions of a Certificate of Occupation. “

“The Right of Purchase Lease was a lease for 21 years with the right of purchase at anytime after the end of the third year of full compliance with the stipulated conditions of residence, cultivation, fencing, payment of taxes, and payment of the purchase price.”

“The Cash Freehold Agreement was an agreement of sale in which the purchaser paid 25% of the purchase price in down payments, and 25% on the remainder for the next three years.”

“The Land Act of 1895 specifically noted that ‘The lessee shall from the end of the first year of said term to the end of the fifth year thereof continuously maintain his home on such premises.’” (Kumu Pono)

“To promote the settlement and improvement of the remaining Government land, under conditions favorable to the settler, but not to simulators, and to meet the needs of different classes desiring lands, the land act of 1895 was enacted as being specially adapted to the requirements of the case.”

“An important feature of this fact was the general requirement of cultivation and improvement of lands taken up, as well as residence thereon for a term of years.”

“There was authority, however, under the act for the sale of lands at auction under special conditions, as to payments for same and cultivation without residence, to meet the cases of persons who desired to improve and cultivate land, but having occupations elsewhere were unable to live on the same.”

Methods of acquiring land included: “General qualifications required of applicants.—Must be over 18 years of age, be a citizen by birth or naturalization, or have letters of denization, be under no civil disability nor delinquent in payment of taxes.”

“Homestead lease. Nine hundred and ninety-nine year lease, conditions upon maintaining a home upon the premises, paying taxes, and cultivating small percentage areas that might be required, 8 to 45 acres, dependent upon quality; no payments other than small application fees …”

“…husband and wife might not both be applicants; applicant must not be owner of other land (except taro or wet land); lease inalienable; not subject to attachment, levy or sale, or to any process of the courts, might not be mortgaged, assigned, or sublet.”

“Right of purchase lease. Lease for twenty-one years with right to purchase at original appraised value any time after two years’ residence and cultivation of 25 per cent; area that might be acquired, 100 to 1,200 acres, dependent on quality …”

“… husband and wife might not both the applicants; applicants could apply for only such amount as taken with any lands owned by them would come to the limits name; rental at 8 per cent on appraised value to be paid until purchase was made.”

“Cash freeholds. Lands sold at auction at an appraised value as upset price; purchase price due in four installments during three years; two years’ residence and 25 per cent of cultivation further required to perfect title; qualifications and areas that might be acquired same as under right of purchase lease.”

“Special agreement. Sale at auction under special conditions as to payment by installments, with requirements of cultivation, with or without residence limit of area that might be sold under special agreement, 600 acres. (Practically the area has been limited to 100 acres of first-class land, as under the other systems.)”

“Cash sales. Sales made unconditionally for cash at public auction. These sales usually made to meet cases where exceptionally costly improvements were contemplated, as buildings, reservoirs, pumping machinery, etc.”

“Ola‘a district sides. Special sales, at a value appraised in the act of 1895, of lands held under Crown leases in the district of Olaa, Hawaii.”

“Lessee could purchase his leasehold up to 200 acres when 15 per cent of same had been put under cultivation and further improvements to the value of $200 made; distinct from the general systems of the land act and applying only to the Olaa district.” (JF Brown, Commissioner of Public Lands)

“The land act of 1895 has proved well suited to the condition in the Hawaiian Islands. Under it the demand for public land has been active, and fair prices have been realized for the benefit of the public treasury.”

“Speculation and land grabbing has been minimized and a marked improvement and development of lands taken is evident. The success of the act would not be questioned by any impartial observer familiar with the facts.”

“The extremely varied quality of the lands, the intermingling of public and private lands, and the special needs of the people, together with the duty of best utilizing the limited public domain required land laws drawn to meet such special conditions, and these, in all essential points, have been met by the land act of 1895. USDA, Stubbs ,1901)

© 2022 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Map of Hawaiian Islands-Drpt Foreign Affairs-1896
Map of Hawaiian Islands-Drpt Foreign Affairs-1896

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Provisional Government, Farming, Homesteading, Farm Land, Farm, Land Act of 1895, Hawaii, Great Mahele

June 30, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Laws Against ‘Forsaking of Farms’

“In the spirit of this constitutional distinction, on the 7th of June, 1830, the Nobles, with the sanction of the King, passed some ordinances or rules …”

“‘respecting applications for farms, forsaking of farms, disposing of farms, and the management of farms,’ having in view the encouragement of industry.”

“In these the landlords are recognized as a distinct and independent class of local proprietors over such portions of their lands as are actually in cultivation, subject to the claims of their tenantry …”

“… and as to those lands not in actual use, it gives a community of ownership between the government and landlords, by saying …”

“‘Those men who have no land, not even a garden, nor any place to cultivate, and yet wish to labor for the purpose of obtaining the object of their desires …”

“… may apply to the land agent, or the governor, or the King, for any piece of land which is not already cultivated by another person, and such piece shall be given him.’” (Revised Laws of Hawaii) The law noted …

“No man living on a farm whose name is recorded by his landlord, shall without cause desert the land of his landlord. Nor shall the landlord causelessly dispossess his tenant.”

“These are crimes in the eyes of the law. If any portion of the good land be overgrown with weeds, and the landlord sees that it continues thus after a year and six months from the circulation of this law of taxation …”

“… then the person whose duty it is shall put that place which he permitted to grow up with weeds under a good state of cultivation, and then leave it to his landlord.”

“This shall be the penalty for all in every place who permit the land to be overrun with weeds. The same rule shall apply to sub-landlords and sub-tenants.”

“But if any man in straitened circumstances, wish to leave his farm, or if he have business in another place, this is the course he shall pursue.”

“He shall first give notice to his landlord, and having informed him, he shall then put the farm in as good a state as he found it, after which he may leave it.”

“Furthermore, let every man who possesses a farm in the Hawaiian kingdom labor industriously with the expectation of there by securing his own personal interest, and also of promoting the welfare and peace of the kingdom.”

“Those men who have no land, not even a garden nor any place to cultivate, and yet wish to labor for the purpose of obtaining the object of their desire, may apply to the land agent, or the Governor, or the King for any piece of land which is not already cultivated by another person, and such places shall be given them.”

“The landlords and King shall aid such persons in their necessities, and they shall not go to the field labor of the King and landlords for the term of three years, after which they shall go.”

“But if neither the landlords nor King render them any aid until they bring such uncultivated ground into a good state of cultivation …”

“… and they eat of the products of the land without any aid, then they shall not for four years be required to go to the field on the labor days of the king, nor of the landlords.”

“After these years they shall go to the field and also pay taxes. But the poll tax they shall always pay.”

“It is furthermore recommended that if a landlord perceive a considerable portion of his land to be unoccupied, or uncultivated, and yet is suitable for cultivation, but is in possession of a single man, that the landlord divide out that land equally between all his tenants.”

“And if they are unable to cultivate the whole, then the landlord may take possession of what remains for himself, and seek new tenants at his discretion.” (Kingdom Laws of 1842)

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Planter-Herb Kane
Planter-Herb Kane

Filed Under: General, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Farm, Farmers, Kingdom Laws

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