Wilcox Rebellions

The first organized factions of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement were established even before the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. In 1887, a group of American-born government ministers led by Interior Minister Lorrin A. Thurston with the support of an armed militia forced King David Kalākaua at gunpoint to promulgate what is now called the Bayonet Constitution. The constitution stripped native Hawaiians of their voting rights while at the same time empowered Americans and other white foreigners to make decisions for the island nation. The king's own powers were limited substantially. A native Hawaiian officer and veteran of the Italian military, Robert William Wilcox, organized a rebellion in 1888 to revive the powers of the king over administration. The rebellion was thwarted by annexationist plantation owners and Wilcox was tried for treason.

Acquitted from any wrongdoing, Wilcox organized a second rebellion in 1889 in attempt to forcibly unseat the Americans that had appointed themselves to the Privy Council — the royal cabinet. Again, Wilcox was unsuccessful and tried for treason. Acquitted a second time, Wilcox organized a third rebellion in 1895 in protest of the unfair trial of Queen Lili‘uokalani at the hands of the American Judge Advocate General's Corps. Wilcox planned to attack government buildings in downtown Honolulu at night. Armaments were landed on the beaches of O‘ahu. The armaments were found and Wilcox was tried for treason once more. This time Wilcox was found guilt and sentenced to death. However, President of Hawaii Sanford B. Dole pardoned Wilcox.