Who owns Hawaii?

Answer 1

Prior to 1839, no one owned any land in Hawaii. No native Hawaiian, no missionaries, not even the monarchy. Hawaiians saw themselves as stewards of the land. They cared for it, used it to cultive their crops, lived on it and off of it, even wars fought were about people, feeding people, gaining crops, gaining wild game, acquiring slaves, and not about land. The common knowledge was how can a man own land, something that will outlive him, his children, his grandchildren, all of his decendants. In 1839, King Kamehameha III instilled the Great Mahele. From this point on, anyone could aquire land. They just had to see the Konohiki (the guy in charge of land division for that area) and they would acquire a 1/4 acre plot of land for him and his family. Upon his death, the land would revert back to the government unless someone made a claim for it, i.e. his family. Larger land parcels were given for agricultral use. Since 1898, Hawaii has been controlled by the US and all land ownership has become lease hold or fee simple. In other words, one rents the use of a place or one can purchase the ownership of it.

Answer 2

The U.S.