First just a note-I have added some of the Vol. 16 Lahaina testimony to the Lahaina Awards in Google Earth, so you can download the update to that file.

As I slog through v. 16 (mixed Hawaiian/English) I come across small pieces that show what a complex world it was in the 1850s as the Mahele sorted out.  I’ve never seen a good analysis of the fact that all of the sudden the Poalima (land cultivated by maka’ainana for konohiki/chiefs) just ceased to exist, and to make it even more complicated, Poalima were apparently considered Govt. land, so all of the sudden little bits and pieces of lo’i and dryland, usually embedded in now privately-owned land, were frequently auctioned off.  I suspect a significant part of the ‘adverse possession’ claims which plagued maka’ainana through the 1930’s probably started here.  Also, I’m starting to realize (at least on Maui) that a significant number of Konohiki by the 1840’s were haole, some (like Gower) who became rather infamous for their abuse of power.  Also you get some evidence of the stress for maka’ainana in a system where they had no realistic recourse (such as a working legal system) by which they could fight abuses of power.

5176 B  Kaleo claimant    Koali Hana, Aug. 19, 1854

Claimant appeared in person before E. Bailey and said that the Konohiki had one Loi Poalima in his Mauka lot which Mr. Turner did not take out when he surveyed said lot, but it belongs to Mr. Whittlesey the Konohiki. (v. 16/106)

4838  Kaihe  claimant    Wananalua  Aug. 23, 1854

Claimant appeared in person before E. Bailey and said that did not willing by relinquish his claim to Kuakamauna the Konohiki, but that he was induced to do so by various threats of the Konohiki.

Decided it is not given up. (v. 16/107)

I have added two new files available for both viewing and download. The first is a useful listing of all the LCA claims for the moku of Lahaina from the Mahele index-while nothing new, it is searchable through Adobe so may prove useful to some. The second is a compilation of the various claims made by the Government to property both in Lahaina moku and Waititi moku, both for the government and also the various lands given to (or given up) by the various high chiefs in the Mahele. This has several interesting aspects, one being the patterns of claims by various chiefs. A minor puzzle is the large number of lands claimed by the Government as “Fort” lands in Waititi, which is somewhat odd given that the only true “fort” installations were around Honolulu harbor. Both of these files are in the Mahele land tab.