The Great Māhele

The event known as Ka Māhele covers a ten-year period in the reign of Kamehameha III, when the King attempted to divide all the land in the islands among himself and 252 of the high-born Ali’i, the chiefs of old. Kamehameha was a forward-thinking ruler who sought to bring his kingdom into the modern, 19th-century world. Join us as we examine the Hawaiian system of land tenure before Ka Māhele, explore the reasons behind this major paradigm shift in Hawaiian culture, and take a look at whether or not the monumental effort was successful.

This program is presented by the Friends of the Libraries, Kona (F.O.L.K.). For more information, please contact Kailua-Kona Public Library at 327-4327. Program schedule is subject to change. Contact the library 15 days in advance to request a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations.