The first constitution, granted by King Kamehameha III, proclaimed the rights of the people, ensuring
equal protection for both the people and the chiefs. Written by Kamehameha III and the Chiefs, and
enacted on June 7, 1839; published as He Kumukanawai a me ke Kanawai Ho'oponopono Waiwai no ko
Hawai'i Nei Pae 'Aina, Honolulu, 1839, and in English in The Hawaiian Spectator, Vol. II, No. 3,
Honolulu, July 1839. Forbes 1147 (II:211-213) and 1099 (II:181-183).
English translation
THE HAWAIIAN SPECTATOR.
Conducted by AN ASSOCIATION OF GENTLEMEN.
VOLUME II. 1839.
PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS.
HONOLULU, O'AHU, SANDWICH ISLANDS.
1839.
(Translation of the Constitution of
Our Hawaiian Islands.)
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Original Hawaiian
HE KUMU KANAWAI, A ME KE KANAWAI HOOPONOPONO WAIWAI, NO KO HAWAII NEI PAE AINA.
NA KAMEHAMEHA III I KAU.
Honolulu: 1839.
KUMU KANAWAI, NO KO HAWAII NEI PAE AINA.
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1. God hath made of one blood all nations of men,
to dwell on the face of the earth in unity and
blessedness. God has also bestowed certain
rights alike on all men, and all chiefs and all people
of all lands.
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1. Ua hana mai ke Akua i na lahuikanaka a pau i ke
koko hookahi, e noho like lakou ma ka honua nei
me ke kuikahi, a me ka pomaikai. Ua haawi mai
no ke Akua i kekahi mau waiwai like, no na
kanaka a pau, me naÕlii a pau o na aina a pau loa.
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2. These are some of the rights which he has
given alike to every man and every chief, life,
limb, liberty, the labor of his hands and productions
of his mind.
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2. Eia kekahi mau waiwai ana i haawi like mai ai
i kela kanaka keia kanaka, i kela alii keia alii; o ke
ola, o na lala o ke kino; o ka noho hoopaa ole ia, a
me ke keakea ole ia, o na mea a kona lima i hanaÕi,
a me na mea a kona manao i hooponopono ai.
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3. God has also established governments and
rule for the purposes of peace, but in making
laws for a nation it is by no means proper to
enact laws for the protection of rulers only, without
also providing protection for their subjects;
neither is it proper to enact laws to enrich the
chiefs only, without regard to the enriching of
their subjects also; and hereafter, there shall by
no means be any law enacted which is inconsistent
with what is above expressed, neither shall
any tax be assessed, nor any service or labor
required of any man in a manner at variance
with the above sentiments.
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3. Na ke Akua mai no hoi ka oihana alii, a me
ka noho alii ana i mea e malu ai; aka, i ka hana
ana i na kanawai o ka aina, aole pono e hanaia
kekahi kanawai hoomalu alii wale no, a hoomalu
ole i na makaainana. Aole hoi e pono ke kau i
ke kanawai hoowaiwai i naÕlii wale no, a waiwai
ole na makaainana; a mahope aku nei, aole loa
e kauia kekahi kanawai ku e i keia mau olelo i
oleloia maluna, aole hoi e auhau wale ia, aole e
hookauwaia, aole e hoohana wale ia kekahi
kanaka ma ke ano ku e i ua mau olelo la.
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4. These sentiments are hereby proclaimed for
the purpose of protecting alike, both the people
and the chiefs of all these islands, that no chief
may be able to oppress any subject, but that
chiefs and people may enjoy the same protection
under one and the same law.
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4. Nolaila, e hoolahaia aku ai keia olelo, i mea
hoomalu like i na kanaka a pau a me naÕlii a pau
o keia pae aina; i keakea ole ai kekahi alii i kekahi
o na makaainana, i like hoi ka malu o naÕlii, a me
na kanaka malalo o ke kanawai hookahi.
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5. Protection is hereby secured to the persons of
all the people, together with their lands, their
building lots and all their property and nothing
whatever shall be taken from any individual,
except by express provision of the laws.
Whatever chief shall perseveringly act in violation
of this Constitution, shall no longer remain a
chief of the Sandwich Islands, and the same shall
be true of the governors, officers and all land
agents.
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5. Ua hoomaluia ke kino o na kanaka a pau, a me
ko lakou aina, a me ko lakou mau pahale, a me
ko lakou waiwai a pau; aole hoi e laweia kekahi
mea, ke olelo ole ia kela mea ma ke kanawai. O
ke alii e hana i kekahi mea ku e i keia Kumu
kanawai, e pau kona noho alii ana ma keia pae
aina o Hawaii nei, ke hoomau ia malaila, pela na
kiaaina, a me na luna a me na konohiki a pau.
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