Reimagining land rights in the Aloha State

Meet Professor Alina Boyte—a force to be reckoned with in the field of property law. Her distinguished academic journey has led to her steadfast advocacy for some of Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable communities, particularly those facing challenges related to land rights and dispossession. 

Alina was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She spent her early years in the United Kingdom and the United States, pursuing a series of law degrees that led to a prolific professional career. Boyte received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London, a Master of Laws degree from the University of Cambridge, and a Master of the Science of Law and Doctor of the Science of Law from Stanford Law School. 

“Law is the only thing that can guarantee a better future for us, and that’s why I love studying law and love writing about the law,” Alina smiled as she shared about her passion for legal studies.

Out of all the places around the world where Alina could have put her knowledge and expertise into action, she chose William S. Richardson School of Law, recognizing Hawaii as the singular place in the United States where land rights, development rights, climate advocacy, and Native Hawaiian rights converge in profound and inseparable ways.. It is an exciting place to study these topic areas, Alina shared, further adding that the state comprises “a community that really cares” about these issues. She stressed that questions posed by these major problems may be theoretical in nature in other parts of the U.S. mainland, but in Hawai‘i, these are existential questions that “we have to answer for the state.”

According to Alina, property rights have been traditionally allocated to individuals who hold the most economic power, those who can make the most efficient use of the land. However, the most economical use of land may not be the most sustainable in terms of protecting cultural and social interests. Hawai‘i is a place where lawmakers and law students can rethink assumptions of property use. One way to counter these assumptions is to include property rights that have traditionally been excluded. Studying land use and property rights in the state of Hawai‘i is critical, particularly for local communities that have had their land illegally taken from them, a historical practice of land grabbing dating back to the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani from the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. Local communities affected more recently by the tragic Lahaina fires witnessed a similar scenario unfold before their eyes when developers stepped in to acquire their land. Alina astutely draws a parallel between land rights and economic power. Those with  power and the means to acquire land will secure ownership through various means. This often inequitable process is further propelled by economic forces, as well as corrupt influences. 

While Alina acknowledges that land exploitation and land grabbing are common practices, she also feels that her mission as a professor of property law is to focus on kuleana (responsibility in the Hawaiian language). Alina wishes to instill in her students at Richardson Law the importance of repurposing land to build community spaces, in an effort to preserve Hawai‘i’s history and cultural practices. “Although land is limited, human imagination is not,” Alina shared. She feels that there are unlimited, creative ways of adapting and stewarding land that are not being practiced in the Aloha State. 

Alina Boyte’s goal as a professor is to train the next generation of lawyers to make a difference in the world. “I want my students to know that they have the ability to design a better future, and that’s what I want to bring to Richardson. With my classes, I try to instill in my students the confidence that they can make a difference, and I think that’s the most important thing.” 

She believes that as a mentor, her responsibility is to give her students the foundation, knowledge, and tools about the law, and to empower them to realize that they are in a position to make a real difference in the world. One piece of advice Alina shared, which she wished her professors had told her when she was a law student, is to believe in yourself, knowing that you have what it takes, and to build bridges, not tear them down.

---

This story is a part of the Faculty Feature Series, which highlights the incredible work of professors at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

---

About William S. Richardson School of Law

The William S. Richardson School of Law is a collaborative, multicultural community preparing students for excellence in the practice of law and related careers that advance justice and the rule of law. We develop highly qualified, ethical professionals through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and public service. We embrace Hawai‘i’s diversity and values and recognize a special responsibility to our state and the Pacific region.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Collin Cedotal, Public Information Specialist
(808) 956-9391 | ccedotal@hawaii.edu