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Comm. 25-020 <br />TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO QUIET LAND TITLES <br />With the Mahele of 1848 and the two Acts of 1850, authorising the sale of land in <br />The simple to resident aliens and the award of kuleana lands to native tenants, land tenure <br />in Hawaii arrived at a significant turning point (Chinen 1961:13). Waiakahiula Ahupua`a <br />was awarded to Mikahela Kekauonohi and Aaron Keali`iahonui as part of a large Land <br />Commission Award (LCA 11216) that included parcels on several islands <br />(waihonacom). Mikahela Kekauonohi was the granddaughter of Kamehameha 1, and <br />wife of Liholiho, Kamehameha 11. Aaron Keali`iahonui was the son of the last ruling <br />chief of Kaua' i. A small portion of the 277.8-acre Land Grant 1533 awarded to Kekoa in <br />also appears to be partially in Waiakahiula Ahupua'a (Figure 5). A second grant (I.G <br />3331) was awarded to Keaneopala in Honolulu Ahupua`a to the southeast. <br />CHANGING RESIDENTIAL AND LAND -USE PATTERNS (1845-1865) <br />Between 1845 and 1865 traditional land -use and residential patterns underwent a <br />change. In particular, the regular use of Hilo Bay by foreign vessels, the whaling <br />industry, the establishment of missions in the Hilo area, the introduction of the <br />sandalwood trade, the legalization of private land ownership, the introduction of cattle <br />ranching, and the introduction of sugar cane cultivation all brought about changes in <br />settlement patterns and long-established land -use patterns (Kelly ei al. 1981). <br />I lilo became the center of population and settlements in outlying regions declined <br />or disappeared. While food was still grown for consumption, greater areas of' land were <br />continually given over to the specialized cultivation and processing of commercial <br />foodstuffs for export. Sugar cane plantations and industrial facilities were established in <br />areas that were once upland agricultural areas and coastal settlements, respectively. <br />Sugarcane agriculture developed in Puna District, and sugarcane was inland to the <br />west and southwest of the current project area. I lonolulu Landing was constructed just <br />south of the project area in I lonolulu Ahupua`a and used from the late 1800s through the <br />early 1900s. The whole of Waiakahiula Ahupua`a was not developed until the Hawaiian <br />Beaches Estates residential development was constructed there. <br />