July 4, 1894: Constitution of the Republic of Hawaiʻi
On July 4, 1894, the Republic of Hawaiʻi’s first Constitution was promulgated. Article 23 specifically named Sanford B. Dole as the first President. He later became the Governor of Hawaiʻi after annexation. An image of the cover of the 1894 Constitution is below.
As the following newspaper article explains, the ʻAha Hoʻokō (Executive Council) made it known that a new Constitution would be promulgated on July 4, 1894 by the Provisional Government. All Hawaiian Patriotic Leagues were instructed to keep the peace, to refrain from acts likely to incite riots, and to refrain from engaging in acts that would violate martial law.
Available in: Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Iulai 3, 1894, ʻaoʻao 2, kolamu 3.