King Kalakaua

The Bayonet Constitution greatly curtailed the king's power, making him a mere figurehead. Many Hawaiian League members belonged to a volunter militia, the Honolulu Rifles, which was officially in service to the Hawaiian government, but was secretly the league's military arm.

For the remaining years of the monarchy, efforts to amend or replace the constitution received widespread support.

The Bayonet Constitution's other purpose was to remove the Native Hawaiian majority's dominance at the polls and in the Legislature. The reluctant king argued and protested, but finally signed the document, which became known as the Bayonet Constitution. The House of Nobles, formerly appointed by the king, would now be elected, and voters and candidates for it had to meet a high property ownership or income requirement -- which excluded two-thirds of the Native Hawaiian voters. They traded and freely smoked opium, had a corrupted government system because of it, drank and danced hula.

The Hawaiians strenuously opposed the diminution of their voice in governing their own country and resented the reduction of the monarch's powers and the manner in which the Bayonet Constitution had been forced on him. Theself-styled Reform Cabinet responded that only an act of the Legislature could do this - though their new constitution had never been put to a vote. Dethroning him would be a last resort, and only if he refused to comply.

Kalakaua was compelled to accept a new Cabinet composed of league members, who presented their constitution to him for his signature at `Iolani Palace. Hawaiians, Chinese and Japanese petitioned the king to revoke the constitution. The righteous reformers were determined to save the Hawaiians from self-government.