What significant change did the Great Mahele implement regarding land ownership in Hawaii?

What significant change did the Great Mahele implement regarding land ownership in Hawaii?

• A. It established a feudal system
• B. It introduced private land ownership
• C. It restricted land use for native Hawaiians
• D. It abolished private ownership of land

Answer: (B)

The Great Mahele, enacted in 1848, was a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history that significantly transformed land ownership by introducing private land ownership. Prior to the Great Mahele, land in Hawaii was communally owned by the ali'i (chiefs) and the people, with inherent rights to access and use resources on the land. The Great Mahele transitioned this communal system into a framework that allowed individuals to own land as private property. This change was aimed at modernizing the land tenure system and aligning with Western legal concepts of property rights. This significant shift allowed individuals, particularly former chiefs and wealthy foreigners, to claim and own specific parcels of land, leading to an increased emphasis on individual rights and economic development. However, it also resulted in complexities for native Hawaiians, who faced challenges in retaining their ancestral lands amidst this new system of ownership. The introduction of private land ownership has had long-lasting impacts on the social and economic landscape of Hawaii.

The Great Mahele, enacted in 1848, was a pivotal moment in Hawaiian history that significantly transformed land ownership by introducing private land ownership. Prior to the Great Mahele, land in Hawaii was communally owned by the ali'i (chiefs) and the people, with inherent rights to access and use resources on the land. The Great Mahele transitioned this communal system into a framework that allowed individuals to own land as private property. This change was aimed at modernizing the land tenure system and aligning with Western legal concepts of property rights.

This significant shift allowed individuals, particularly former chiefs and wealthy foreigners, to claim and own specific parcels of land, leading to an increased emphasis on individual rights and economic development. However, it also resulted in complexities for native Hawaiians, who faced challenges in retaining their ancestral lands amidst this new system of ownership. The introduction of private land ownership has had long-lasting impacts on the social and economic landscape of Hawaii.