Constitution Week: Constitutional History of Hawaii 1840

The February 16, 1840 edition of The Polynesian led with the following letter from "The Translator," an anonymous writer to J. Jarves, editor:

SIR: -A few months since, your readers were informed that the King and Chiefs of the Hawaiian Islands were engaged in framing a Constitution for the government and also revising the laws.

The Constitution has been issued from the press, and there are embraced on the same pamphlet a number of laws which many of your readers would doubtless be pleased to peruse; I have therefore commenced a translation into English, which I will continue if you think best to publish it.

A considerable portion of the pamphlet consists of a revised edition of the laws relating to taxation published in June 1839.

Those laws, as the public were informed in the Hawaiian Spectator, were originally drawn up, by a graduate of the Seminary at Lahainaluna, and after being revised by the chiefs were re-written by himself. The other laws were drawn up by several different persons, but all have been revised by the King and a council of those chiefs whose names are mentioned in the Constitution. The attendance however has not been universal. The Constitution, after it had been approved by the other chiefs, was sent by a messenger appointed for that object, to Gov. Adams, of Hawaii. He approved of the whole except that part which limits the powers of the Governors. The King and Chiefs who have been together, have been unanimous in the acts which they have passed.

The have received many suggestions both by letter and orally, from foreign residents and visitors. They have also received suggestions in both these ways from their own subjects.

The translation which I send you is a free one, not adhering strictly to the letter, as that would materially violate the English idiom. But I have attempted always to convey the sense in the clearest and most concise manner.

Yours truly,

THE TRANSLATOR

The text of the 1840 Constitution of the then-Kingdom of Hawaii is available online. Click here to read the English and Hawaiian language versions.