HRS §7-1
Tenants' rights to use land for basic needs
This law protects people living on land from losing basic rights to use that land for their own needs. It covers taking firewood, building materials, and water, plus using paths. It does not allow selling these items for profit, and it does not apply to wells or water systems someone built for themselves.
tenants
The statute, as written — Building materials, water, etc.; landlords' titles subject to tenants' use
Where the landlords have obtained, or may hereafter obtain, allodial titles to their lands, the people on each of their lands shall not be deprived of the right to take firewood, house-timber, aho cord, thatch, or ki leaf, from the land on which they live, for their own private use, but they shall not have a right to take such articles to sell for profit. The people shall also have a right to drinking water, and running water, and the right of way. The springs of water, running water, and roads shall be free to all, on all lands granted in fee simple; provided that this shall not be applicable to wells and watercourses, which individuals have made for their own use. [CC 1859, §1477; RL 1925, §576; RL 1935, §1694; RL 1945, §12901; RL 1955, §14-1; HRS §7-1]
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