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October 9, 2024 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Harry Irwin

“Every last one of us has felt in one way or another the impact of the personality of Harry Irwin. He learned out of the crucible of hard tough law practice … and was quick to praise and not slow to condemnation when he felt it was deserved.”

“He had the courage to wade into the political bull ring and take on the biggest … if he felt the cause was right, he was battling to the finish.” (Martin Pence, HTH)

“At the request of the House Committee on Territories Chair Charles F Curry, the two territorial proposals were revised and resubmitted as one piece of legislation, House Resolution 12683. Territorial Attorney General Harry S Irwin drafted the new legislation for Kūhiō to introduce.”

“Attorney General Irwin designed what would be called the ‘Kuhio Bill’ …  [after some opposition] As to the issue of reconciliation, Kūhiō recognized: ‘It is a fact, though, that the constitution granted by Kamehameha III recognized that the common people had the same interest in the lands of the kingdom as the king and the chiefs.’” (Andrade)

“In July 1921, the United States Congress enacted and President Warren G Harding signed into law the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, establishing a land trust of approximately 203,500 acres of former Crown and Government Lands to provide homestead leases at a nominal fee for native Hawaiians, those individuals of fifty percent or more Hawaiian blood.” (Andrade) (Irwin prepared much of the original Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.)

Irwin was born in born at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada on December 21, 1874. He was the son of Robert Gore and Isabelle (Archer) Irwin. He was educated in grammar, high and normal schools of Nova Scotia and studied law at Boston University Law School and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, earning a law degree in 1898.

It is interesting that Irwin and Kūhiō were in South Africa during the Boer War. Irwin “served with Canadian forces in the Boer War in South Africa at the turn of the century.” (SB July 2, 1957)

Irwin was a volunteer with “Strathcona’s Horse” from 1899-1901, being discharged as sergeant. (Siddall) Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, raised a regiment at his own expense for service in the British Army in South Africa. The unit was known as Strathcona’s Horse. (Canadian War Museum)

“The Boers were Dutch farmers of the Orange Free State in southern Africa.  Incensed over British farmers moving into their land, the Boers declared war against Britain. … The British Empire, not to be trifled with, rushed half a million troops into the area.  The Boers, never more than a few thousand in number, fought back using guerilla tactics.”  (Star Bulletin, May 26, 1981)

After Kūhiō married Kahanu on October 8, 1896 they left Hawai‘i on a self-imposed exile.  (DHHL)  Kūhiō and Kahanu “remained away two years, during which time they visited many interesting places” (Hawaiian Star, May 28, 1904), “vowing never to return to a Hawai‘i that appeared inhospitable to Hawaiians.” (Star Bulletin, March 26, 1996)

“They went to South Africa [where the] Prince was given an opportunity of enjoying some big game hunting.  (Hawaiian Star, May 28, 1904) “[T]he prince was anxious to see some of the fighting.  But the authorities always managed to keep him away from the scene of the skirmish although they saw bullets flying from a distance.”  (Star Bulletin, February 20, 1932)

“[D]uring the Boer war … Prince Kūhiō had some exciting experiences with the British in their engagements with the Boer forces. The prince was on a train that was attacked by the Boers. He met the late Cecil Rhodes and was entertained by Sir J. Somers Vine.” (Hawaiian Star, May 28, 1904)

Kūhiō returned to the Islands and got into politics.  Irwin “came to the Islands in 1901. He taught at several Big Island schools, and was principal of Honokaa School in 1904, the same year he started practicing law.” (SB, July 2, 1957)

In 1906, Irwin became an American citizen. (Hawaii Herald, July 12, 1906). “[Irwin] married the former Ruth Guard in 1908, and was appointed [First District Magistrate, Honolulu, 1917-1918], deputy attorney general in 1918, and served as attorney general from 1919 to 1922.” (SB, July 2, 1957)

After government service, Irwin practiced law. According to fellow attorney (later US District Judge, Martin Pence) stated, “I used to say my business was the Woolworth Five and Ten – meaning it was of the ordinary people with low income, you see.”

 “The plantations had Carlsmith, Carlsmith who represented all of the big companies, who represented all of the banks and so on. They had Harry Irwin and Tiny Smith. They were the two other haoles and I was the other haole.” (Martin Pence)

When my grandparents, John Alexander (Jack) Young and Alloe Louise Marr, were married on September 20, 1911 at Hilo, Harry Irwin (First District Magistrate, Honolulu, 1917-1918 and territorial Attorney General) was Jack’s best man and Florence Shipman (daughter of WH Shipman who later married Roy Blackshear) was bridesmaid.

© 2024 Ho‘okuleana LLC

Filed Under: Prominent People, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Jack Young, Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, Harry Irwin, Kuhio Bill

January 15, 2024 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Homesteads

“From ancient times, Kanaka Maoli culture supported a belief in the power of environmental gods. It was generally believed that all the resources on the land of these islands and in the sea around them were gifts to the Kānaka Maoli from their gods.”

“These gifts carried responsibilities; the people had to care for them. The gods would thus be satisfied that their resources were respected; otherwise, disaster would strike, droughts parch the land, and there would be nothing to eat.”

“These natural resources were gifts for all the people to use; they were not “owned” by individuals, not even ali‘i (chiefs).”

“The ali‘i nui (high chief), in a sense, held the lands in trust for the gods and had the responsibility to create conditions under which the maka‘āinana, who were the fishers, the cultivators, and the artisans, took proper care of the land and the sea, which provided food and other resources for everyone, generation after generation.“

“Private ownership of land by foreigners living in the Hawaiian Islands was legalized by a law passed in July 1850. However, the maka‘āinana, had to wait until the Kuleana Act of August 1850 before rules and procedures were established to allow the government to start dealing with their land claims under the Māhele.” (Hasager & Kelly)

“The Kuleana Act (kuleana has the double meaning of plot of land and responsibility) specified that the native ‘tenants’ had the rights to their ‘cultivated grounds, or kalo lands, [but only] what they really cultivated, and which lie in the form of cultivated lands’”.  (Language from Sec 6 of Kuleana Act; Hasager & Kelly)

“The Kuleana Act has been called the first homestead effort of the Hawaiian government, equating homesteads with agricultural enterprises.”

“The homesteading feature of the act was section 4, which opened for sale of government lands to ‘natives’ ’in lots of from one to fifty acres, in fee-simple, to such natives as may not be otherwise furnished with sufficient land, at a minimum price of fifty cents per acre’”. (Language from Sec 4 of Kuleana Act; Hasager & Kelly)

A few years later, King Kalākaua signed what is referred to as the Homestead Act on August 29, 1884.  That Act starts by saying, “There are many persons of small means in the Kingdom who are without permanent homes and are desirous of procuring homesteads.” (Homestead Act of 1885)

“Following the American homestead policy, the government of Hawai‘i made plans to offer ownership of land in relatively small parcels for merely occupying and farming it for a given number of years, starting in 1884. Most of these lands were in relatively small parcels with nearby flowing streams.” (Hasager & Kelly)

The Homestead Act noted a distinction between kula (‘dry’) and kalo (‘wet’) lands noting that “the Minister of the Interior is hereby authorized and instructed to cause portions of the public lands which are suitable for the purpose and not at the time held by any person under lease from the Government …”

“… to be surveyed and laid out in lots not over twenty and not less than two acres in extent in dry or kula land, and not over two acres in extent in wet or kalo. land, with convenient roads in connection therewith.” (Section 1 of Homestead Act of 1884)

“These lots are then to be appraised by three appraisers, one of whom shall be the surveyor who laid out the land, and the other two residents of the district, who shall make a written statement of their appraisement to the Minister of the Interior, signed by at least two of their number.”

“The Minister shall thereupon publish a notice, inviting applications for the said lots, which shall be filed with the date of their receipt.”  (Alexander)

“Any person of full age who may desire to acquire any of the said lots shall apply in writing to the Minister of Interior, stating the number of the lot chosen, and shall thereupon attend at the office of the Minister of Interior, bringing a fee of ten dollars, which shall be paid to the Minister of the Interior if such application is accepted and the proper papers signed and delivered.”

“No one will be allowed to acquire more than one lot, provided, however, that persons will be allowed to acquire two lots where one of them is kula land only and one is wet or kalo land only.”  (Notice from Minister of Interior, Homestead Act of 1884)

“By this agreement, the applicant is allowed to occupy the lot for five years free from taxes for the same, on condition that he build a dwelling house upon it within one year, and fence it within two years”. (Alexander)

“Furthermore, this agreement cannot be assigned to any third party. At the end of the said term of five years, on the fulfillment of the above agreement, the occupant of the lot shall receive a Royal Patent for the same.”  (Alexander)

On September 6, 1888, the foregoing Act was so amended that in the rocky districts of Kahikinui and Kipa, Maui, and Kona and Puna, Hawai’i, the limit of the size of the Kula lots was raised to one hundred acres.  (Alexander)

“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)

In the following Land Act of 1895, “The idea of the legislature in creating these leases was clearly to encourage settlement and residence upon 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 in number the thrifty citizens of the Territory.” (Lorrin Andrews, Attorney General, Hilo Tribune, Sep 27, 1904)

“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)

“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)

Then, a homestead resolution was drafted and debated in Congress; The US House of Representatives passed this measure on May 22, 1920.  With disagreement in the Senate, Hawaiʻi’s delegate, Prince Kūhiō provided amendments and on July 9, 1921 SR 1881 passed both houses (and was signed into law).  (McGregor)

“The Congress of the United States and the State of Hawaii declare that the policy of this Act is to enable native Hawaiians to return to their lands in order to fully support self-sufficiency for native Hawaiians and the self-determination of native Hawaiians in the administration of this Act, and the preservation of the values, traditions, and culture of native Hawaiians.” (Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920)

“Native Hawaiian” means any descendant of not less than one-half part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778.

The principal purposes are:

  1. Establishing a permanent land base for the benefit and use of native Hawaiians (upon which they may live, farm, ranch, and commercial/industrial or other activities;
  2. Placing native Hawaiians on the lands set aside in a prompt and efficient manner and assuring long-term tenancy to beneficiaries;
  3. Preventing alienation of the fee title to the lands set aside so that these lands will always be held in trust for continued use by native Hawaiians in perpetuity;
  4. Providing adequate amounts of water and supporting infrastructure, so that homestead lands will always be usable and accessible; and
  5. Providing financial support and technical assistance to native Hawaiian beneficiaries to enhance economic self-sufficiency and promote community-based development, the traditions, culture and quality of life of native Hawaiians (Hawaiian Homes Act)

Approximately 200,000‐acres of land was set aside to the Hawaiian Homes Commission as a land trust for homesteading by native Hawaiians.  The property and its program are administered by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

© 2024 Ho‘okuleana LLC

Filed Under: General, Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance, Hawaiian Traditions, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Kuleana Act, Hawaiian Homes Commission, Land Act of 1895, Homesteads, Homestead Act of 1885, Hawaiian Homes Commission Act

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

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