Puu O Hoku Ranch Tax Maps

It's been quite some time since I last posted, but I've been extremely busy reviewing documents I scanned at the Bureau of Conveyances and the Hawaii State Archives on my last couple trips to Honolulu.  I've also been working on annotating the Tax Maps of the various Ahupuaa (including all Kuleana parcels) illegally claimed/occupied by Lavinia Currier/Puu O Hoku Ranch.

These Tax Maps were downloaded from the County of Maui website (Molokai is Zone 5), and all of the files have been converted from .tiff to .jpg files at 300dpi.  Although the maps can be printed on either 8.5 x 11 (letter size) or 8.5 x 14 (legal size) paper, it is better to print on 11 x 17 paper--for ease of reading (no need to bust-out the magnifying glass).  The maps have been split in two, so as to have more space to add my notes. 

Although George Murphy sold "the Ranch" to Lavinia Currier 25-years ago (Liber 21112, beginning at Page 404), you will note "George W. Murphy" is still splattered all over the current Tax Maps.  Nowhere will you see "Puu O Hoku Ranch" or "Lavinia Currier".  Another peculiar item you will note on these Tax Maps is "George W. Murphy, M/C".  The "M/C" stands for "Multiple Claim".  In 1956, George Murphy sent a letter to the Tax Commissioner "requesting" that his name be added to the Tax Maps as the owner of 56 different kuleana parcels, in a nutshell claiming he didn't know who the owners were, the parcels appeared to have been abandoned and because he "owned" the surrounding Ahupuaa--those parcels should escheat to him--as the supposed "konohiki".

There are other instances where parcels have been "dropped" by the tax office (for the dumbest reasons...sometimes for no reason at all), and the land being "absorbed" into the larger surrounding parcel...which just so happens to have been owned by George Murphy. 

Without going into too much detail...AT THIS TIME, here are the Tax Maps:

• M58007 Honoulimaloo & Lupehu_A
• M58007 Honoulimaloo & Lupehu_B
• M58008 - Pohakupili_A
• M58008 - Pohakupili_B
• M58009 - Pohakupili & Moakea (Makai)_A
• M58009 - Pohakupili & Moakea (Makai)_B
• M58010 - Keopukaloa_A
• M58011 - Keopukaloa, Keopuka Paiole & Moakea_A
• M58011 - Keopukaloa, Keopuka Paiole & Moakea_B
• M58012 - Pohakupili_A
• M58012 - Pohakupili_B
• M58013 - Moakea_A
• M58013 - Moakea_B
• M58014 - Moakea_A
• M58014 - Moakea_B
• M59001 - Halawa_A
• M59001 - Halawa_B
• M59002 - Halawa_A
• M59002 - Halawa_B
• M59003 - Halawa_A
• M59003 - Halawa_B
• M59004 - Halawa_A
• M59004 - Halawa_B

If you are unfamiliar with viewing documents in Google Docs, see "Viewing
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Eventually (when I'm done with my notations), I'll add the maps for Honouliwai, Kumimi, Moanui & Waialua.

The notations on these maps include the Original Awardee; the LCAw# (Land Commission Award Number) along with the Book & Page Number the award can be found at; and the associated RP# (Royal Patent Number) along with the Book & Page Number the Royal Patent can be found at.  Lilikala Kame'eleihiwa and her "ohana" at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies has put together a fantastic website for such research: AVA Ancestral Visions of Aina, a god-send for those on the neighbor islands who cannot just "jump on the car" and "drive downtown" to do some research!

Some of the families who may have had their Kuleana lands "frivolously conveyed" from under their feet include: Kaopuiki, Kawaa, Kaahanui, Kaai, Akina, Kamanao/Enos, Kane, Nahoopii, Kekahuna, Kailiuli, Kahawai, Kaikala, Kalaau, Mahoe, Aalona, Paalua...and the list goes on.  The most important item you'll need to start you on your way to claiming what is rightfully yours is your Genealogy!  If you can prove your descendancy from one of the Original Awardees noted on these Tax Maps, you're on your way.

If you are one of the many "Nakoa" currently researching their "Aina Kulaiwi", and you have questions...or need some direction, I'd love to hear from you!  Pop me a note.

Kuleana Lands - Keeping What You Have - Getting Back What You Lost

Finally, help is on the way for getting Kuleana Lands back into their rightful owners' hands.  Thanks to the A'o Aku A'o Mai Initiative - a partnership between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson Law School, Kanaka Maoli will be able to learn more about Hawaii Land Law and protecting their land interests.

Many Hawaiian families lost their Kuleana Lands through Quiet Title, Partition and Adverse Possession actions.  Hopefully, this new initiative will help families avoid this--and better yet, maybe even regain title to Kuleana Lands already lost through these actions.

A primer on Land Title Actions will be published this summer, to educate the community about these processes, and to empower individuals to take action by providing some of the tools necessary to effectively participate in these processes.  Community workshops will be held shortly thereafter on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Kauai and Hawaii.

The most important prerequisite for all legal actions regarding land is your GENEALOGY.  You must be able to prove direct decendency to the original Mahele Awardee.  If you don't already have your genealogy in order, I suggest you start now! 

Also, Kuleana Lands can be exempt from real property taxes (or if not completely exempt, you may be able to pay a very minimal amount).  Applications for "Kuleana Land Tax Exemption" can be found at the various counties' Tax Office Website.

I'll try to keep you updated, as more information becomes available.



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"A'o Aku A'o Mai Initiative"



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Court Update

Regan Iwao of Goodsill, Anderson, Quinn & Stifel (Lavinia Currier's/Puu o Hoku Ranch's attorney) has submitted their Witness List to the Court--a copy of which has been forwarded to the Ohana.  There are two minor errors on Page 3 (Mr. Klibansky appearing under Rune Pedersen as well as under Keala Coelho)--apparently from Copying & Pasting the verbiage within the document, and not proof reading, minor. 

The verbiage within the document is so unspecific, practically "anyone and their mother" can be called to witness.  We are planning to beat meet them at their own game, and use the exact same verbiage on our Witness List that we will be submitting to the Court shortly.

The Witness List can be found on the "Document Storage & Retrieval" Page.

Going Home

After years of hard work…a true labor of love, we are now one step closer to Going Home!  We’ve been granted a Trial Date in the 2^nd Circuit District Court in Wailuku, Maui on Monday, 27 August 2012 8:30 AM.  It would be really nice if the Ohana could fill the courtroom to capacity...so mark your calendars.






Click to view actual document

There is a Pre-Trial Conference (also in Maui) scheduled for Friday, 27 July 2012 2:30 PM.  This will be in closed [Judge's] chambers, and I believe only counsel and witnesses are allowed. 

There's a lot to do in the next couple weeks, in preparation of this momentous occasion.  Preparing documents and exhibits, putting together binders for the Judge and the opposing party, etc.  There are several deadlines that must be met, and we cannot afford to lose this case on a simple technicallity.

I know our Ancestors will be with us in spirit, to fill our hearts with love for one another as well as the aina; and to fill our po'o with the knowledge and the will to continue our quest to undo the injustice that was done over the past century and a half...above all else, we humbly ask Ke Akua for his continued blessings and guidance.



Apology Bill Rekindled

The Apology Bill was signed by President Clinton almost 20-years ago, yet nothing much has taken place since then.  The "Next Generation" of Na Koa were mere toddlers at that time, too young to understand... perhaps, too innocent to care.  To the young Ohana members, take some time to read this if you haven't already.  Understand it...embrace it.  Hopefully within your lifetime, True Restitution--or better yet True Restoration will take place. 

Queen Liliuokalani

UNITED STATES PUBLIC LAW 103-150

103d Congress Joint Resolution 19

Nov. 23, 1993

To acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the January 17, 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and to offer an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Whereas, prior to the arrival of the first Europeans in 1778, the Native Hawaiian people lived in a highly organized, self-sufficient, subsistent social system based on communal land tenure with a sophisticated language, culture, and religion;

Whereas, a unified monarchical government of the Hawaiian Islands was established in 1810 under Kamehameha I, the first King of Hawaii;

Whereas, from 1826 until 1893, the United States recognized the independence of the Kingdom of Hawaii, extended full and complete diplomatic recognition to the Hawaiian Government, and entered into treaties and conventions with the Hawaiian monarchs to govern commerce and navigation in 1826, 1842, 1849, 1875, and 1887;

Whereas, the Congregational Church (now known as the United Church of Christ), through its American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, sponsored and sent more than 100 missionaries to the Kingdom of Hawaii between 1820 and 1850;

Whereas, on January 14, 1893, John L. Stevens (hereafter referred to in this Resolution as the "United States Minister"), the United States Minister assigned to the sovereign and independent Kingdom

Legal Notices of Olde...

Alfred William Jones--the son of William Ap Jones and his wife Kauhiaka, died on 19 March 1887 in Lahaina.  "Alfie" and his sister Clara Kauhiaka Jones (Naki) inherited the Ahupuaa of Lupehu and Pohakupili from their father William.  Alfie took out a $225 mortgage on his 1/2-share of both Ahupuaa with Bishop & Co. of Honolulu.  The mortgage terms required repayment in 4 installments over 2-years.  After making the first three installments, but before he could pay the final installment--Alfie unexpectedly and prematurely died at the tender age of 26. 

Clicking the above picture will take

you to the actual newspaper

What happens when a decedent's family goes through the whole Probate procedures in Probate Court, and have the following Legal Notice published?  Note the part that states "...all persons having [any] claims secured by Mortgages or otherwise [against] the said estate are notified that they must [present] the same...within six months from the date hereof, or they will be forever barred:"

Clicking the above picture will take

you to the actual newspaper

These notices are required as part of the whole Probate process, and are dictated by the Courts.  One would think any and all verbiage within the notice is legally binding.

After the six-month period expires, the Mortgagee forecloses on the property. 

Clicking the above picture will take

you to the actual newspaper

Clicking the above picture will take

you to the actual newspaper

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, the newspapers were cluttered with these notices.  If you do a little "sleuthing" (usually looking at

Camping in Halawa Valley

People have been camping down in Halawa Valley as far back as most living Kanaka Maoli can remember.  I'm over fifty-years old and clearly remember camping in Halawa as a child.

After spending the last couple years reviewing Mahele documents and various land conveyances from 1850's to current, I've noticed one key element missing in the supposedly Clear Title to the Ahupuaa of Halawa.  This missing element Clouds the Title to Halawa and could seriously jeopardize Puu o Hoku Ranch's supposed ownership of land in Halawa.  I'll unveil more at a future time.

Here's a little something to read while sunning on the beach during your next camping trip to Halawa (as it relates to public access):

Clicking the above letter will open up House Bill 1808 in a new window.