mahele

The Mahele was a major land reform in Hawaii in the 19th century, primarily completed in 1848, where the Hawaiian monarchy redistributed land from the royal estate to private individuals. This shift allowed common Hawaiians to own land legally for the first time, breaking the traditional communal land system. The Mahele created a framework for land transactions, titles, and ownership, helping integrate Hawaii’s land system into Western legal practices. It was a significant step toward modern property rights in Hawaii and laid the groundwork for later land development and use, with lasting effects on Hawaiian society and land distribution.