How armed white businessmen forced Hawaii’s king to sign away his kingdom’s democracy in 1887

Hawaii’s Bayonet Constitution of 1887

In 1887, armed white businessmen cornered Hawaii’s King Kalākaua and forced him to sign away his power. The “Bayonet Constitution” stripped voting rights from most Native Hawaiians while giving them to white foreigners who owned property.

This document wasn’t just political theft. It was the first domino that led to Hawaii’s overthrow six years later. Here’s how it happened, and you can explore this pivotal moment at Iolani Palace where these events unfolded.

Businessmen Form Secret Armed Group

The Hawaiian League began in December 1886 when sugar plantation owners and businessmen started meeting in secret. Lorrin Thurston gathered white residents who wanted to end King Kalākaua’s rule and make Hawaii part of America.

The group recruited the Honolulu Rifles militia, which grew from 52 to 272 members in months. Members smuggled weapons from San Francisco and distributed them to supporters.

By June 1887, the League had built a private army of mostly American citizens ready to act against the Hawaiian government.

Armed Militia Issues Ultimatum

On June 30, 1887, the Hawaiian League called their supporters to the Honolulu Rifles armory. Sanford Dole opened the meeting while sugar company president Peter Cushman Jones took charge.

Outside, four rifle companies stood with bayonets fixed and fifty rounds each. Lorrin Thurston read demands that King Kalākaua fire his cabinet immediately, especially Prime Minister Walter Gibson. The armed demonstration made their message clear: comply or face the consequences.

King Caves Under Military Pressure

King Kalākaua surrendered the next morning, July 1st, dismissing Gibson’s entire cabinet. Gibson had supported the king’s authority over business interests, making him the League’s primary target. The same day, League members conveniently discovered an arms shipment from Australia, adding to their military preparations. Gibson fled to San Francisco, where he would die six months later. The League immediately installed their own men as cabinet ministers.

Lawyers Draft Power-Grabbing Constitution

Hawaiian League lawyers spent five days writing a constitution designed to destroy royal power. Thurston, Dole, and four other League attorneys created a document transferring authority from the king to the legislature and cabinet.

The constitution included voting restrictions targeting Native Hawaiians while protecting white plantation owners’ political rights. Every lawyer involved wanted Hawaii annexed by the United States.

They never consulted the Hawaiian legislature or asked for Native Hawaiian input.

Armed Men Surround Royal Palace

On July 6, 1887, over 270 Honolulu Rifles took positions around ʻIolani Palace with bayonets ready. Major V.V. Ashford commanded the mostly American militia as they surrounded the king’s residence.

The armed circle created an atmosphere where violence seemed inevitable if Kalākaua refused their demands. Four rifle companies maintained their threatening formation while League leaders prepared for the final confrontation.

No loyal Hawaiian forces stood between the foreign militia and their king.

Thurston Delivers the Ultimatum

Inside ʻIolani Palace, Lorrin Thurston led the League delegation to face King Kalākaua directly. The men carried their drafted constitution and demanded the king sign immediately.

Witnesses described Kalākaua’s initial resistance, his face showing anger as he realized what submission would mean. The king understood that signing would strip him of real power and disenfranchise most of his Native Hawaiian subjects.

Queen Liliʻuokalani later testified that League members threatened her brother’s life during the confrontation.

Royal Resistance Finally Breaks

Surrounded by armed foreigners with no military protection, King Kalākaua’s defiance crumbled. Contemporary accounts describe the moment his angry expression “dissolved into a smile” as he accepted defeat.

The king faced an impossible choice: sign the constitution or be removed by force. With 270 armed men outside his palace and no loyal troops to defend him, resistance meant bloodshed.

Kalākaua reached for the pen that would transform him from monarch to figurehead.

King Signs Constitution Under Duress

King Kalākaua signed the 1887 Constitution at ʻIolani Palace on July 6th, officially surrendering most royal authority. Chief Justice Albert Judd administered oaths to the king and new cabinet ministers who swore to uphold the document.

The constitution took effect immediately, transferring real power to the legislature and cabinet controlled by League members. The signing ceremony marked the end of meaningful Hawaiian sovereignty, though the document was never ratified by the Hawaiian legislature.

Two-Thirds of Hawaiians Lose Voting Rights

The new constitution imposed income and property requirements that excluded most Native Hawaiians from voting. Citizens needed $600 annual income or $3,000 in property to vote for the upper house, eliminating about two-thirds of Hawaiian voters.

Foreign residents gained voting rights while all Asians lost theirs completely. White sugar plantation owners retained full political control over the kingdom. The League had engineered a system that silenced Native Hawaiian voices in their own homeland.

Marshall Announces New Government Rules

On July 7th, King Kalākaua signed a proclamation claiming he acted on cabinet advice “for government safety.” The royal marshall rode through Honolulu distributing copies of the constitution and declaring it the kingdom’s fundamental law.

The public announcement officially replaced the 1864 Constitution with the League’s document. Honolulu remained under unofficial martial law as armed Rifles patrolled the streets. The Hawaiian League’s coup was complete.

Hawaiians Immediately Begin Organizing Resistance

Native Hawaiians started organizing the moment they learned of the constitution’s harsh terms. Since the Hawaiian legislature never ratified the document, many questioned its legal authority.

The constitution quickly earned the name “Bayonet Constitution” because of the military coercion used to force the king’s signature. Armed patrols continued for days to prevent uprising.

The League had seized control, but their actions set the stage for years of Hawaiian resistance and eventual overthrow of the monarchy.

Visiting ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu

ʻIolani Palace can be found at 364 South King Street in downtown Honolulu, where King Kalākaua was forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution on July 6, 1887. You can see the exact Throne Room where the signing took place and where Queen Liliʻuokalani was later tried for treason. 

King Kalākaua’s coronation suit reproduction stands in the Throne Room, while his Masonic apron is displayed in the King’s Library on the second floor. The basement galleries house royal regalia, crowns, jewelry, and diplomatic orders in climate-controlled cases, plus restored Kitchen and Chamberlain’s Office exhibits. 

You need advance reservations for guided tours or self-led audio tours that include both palace floors and basement galleries.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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