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

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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.