Moku (major districts of Hawai'i Island)

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In old Hawai'i, kings awarded custody of lands to their loyal supporters. Island kingdoms (mokupuni) were divided into districts (moku) which were further parceled into minor chiefdoms (ahupua'a). Because boundaries with neighboring ahupua'a were not crossed with impunity, these land divisions typically extended from the high forested mountains to offshore fishing grounds, providing the residents with access to the resources of all elevations without crossing borders. Within each ahupua'a were 'ili, smaller holdings, each typically worked by one extended family.