PAY HEED!

On the 9th of February, the King appointed Keoni Ana as Minister of the Interior [Kuhina Kalaiaina].

On the 10th of February, John Ricord, William Richards, Zorababela Kaauwai, J. Y. Kanehoa, and Ioane Ii were appointed Commissioners to settle land claims [Luna hoona i na kumu kuleana aina]; the Minister of Interior selected them and gave them an oath as per what is prescribed in Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Part One of the Second Act of Kamehameha III.

[O ka hoohiki, oia no:

Ke hoohiki nei kela mea keia mea o makou, e imi pono me ka paewaewa old i na kumu kuleana aina a na kanaka i hoopii mai nei no ke Aupuni o ko Hawaii pae aina, a e hooholo makou i ka olelo pono no ua kuleana la, ke kumu kuleana, ka loihi o ke kuleana, a me ka nui o ka aina, e like hoi me ka olelo iloko o ka Haawina eha o ka Mokuna ehiku o ka Apana m ua o ke Kanawai i kapaia, ‘He Kanawai hoonohonoho i na hana i haawiia i na Kuhina o ko Hawaii Pae Aina,’ i hooholoia ma Honolulu i keia la _____ o _____, 18_____.

Imua o’u _____ _____, ke Kuhina Kalaiaina.

The oath reads:

We and each of us do solemnly swear that we will carefully and impartially investigate all claims to land submitted to us by private parties against the government of the Hawaiian Islands; and that we will equitably adjudge upon the title, tenure, duration and quantity thereof, according to the terms of article fourth of the seventh chapter of the first part of an act entitled “An act to organize the executive departments of the Hawaiian Islands,” passed at Honolulu, _____ day of _____, 18____.

Subscribed and sworn to, this _____ day of _____, 18_____.

Before me, _____ _____,

Minister of the Interior.]

(Elele Hawaii, 3/3/1846, p. 184)

Ka Elele Hawaii, Buke I, Pepa 24, Aoao 184. Maraki 3, 1846.