November 5, 1833: Law for Regulating Trade in Lahaina
Credit: Artist Robert Dampier, May 1825, “Portrait of Princess Nahiennaena of Hawaii, age 12.”
The following law, promulgated by Princess Harieta Keōpūolani Nāhiʻenaʻena, relates to the regulation of trade in the port of Lahaina. Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena, the only daughter of King Kamehameha I and Keōpūolani, tragically died at the age of twenty-one in 1836. See Marjorie Sinclair, Nahienaena, Hawaiian Princess, 3 Haw. J. Hist. 3, 3 (1969) (available online).
This law contains various provisions relating to the proper regulation of business dealings at the market. The inclusion of particular provision stands out because it strictly prohibits women from going to the market, to spectate or stand idly by (“Eia kekahi, ke papa aku nei au i na wahine, aole loa lakou e hele ma ka pa kuai, e makaikai aku ai, a e ku wale aku, ua oki lakou i ka hele malaila.”).
A full transcription is provided below.
Available in Early Laws and Statutes, Pre Constitution Laws and Regulations 1831-1837.
NO KE KUAI
Auhea oukou e na kanaka a pau ma ka pa kuai, e hoolohe mai oukou i koʻu manao, ke papa aku nei au i na mea ino i hanaia ma ka pa kuai?
Eia na mea aʻu e hooki loa aku nei, o ke kuai ino, o ke kuai poho, o ke kuai malu, o ke aumeume, o ka haki ae, o ka onou wale, o ke alualu wale, o ka hookeke, o ka hahai a ka waapa, o ka alunu, o na mea a pau e hewa ai ke kuai ana, ua oki ia mau mea. Ina e hana ke kanaka i keia mau mea, eia kona uku, e hao wale ia kana mea.
Eia ka pono, o kela mea kumu o keia mea kumu, e noho malie lakou me ko lakou kumu iho, ina i makemakeia ke kumu o kekahi, alaila e kuai oia i kana, aole e hele wale aku kekahi mea kumu ma kona wahi, aole e makaikai aku ka mea kumu ole i kana kuai ana, o ka poe kumu mama i paa lima ia, mai kuai lakou mawaena o ka poe kumu kaumaha, mawaho o ka poe kumu kaumaha, e kuai ai ua mau kumu mama la.
Eia kekahi o ka poe makemake e kuai i ka ia o ka moku, e uku lakou i ke kala no ke kuai ana i ka ia, na ka luna o ka pa e hoolike i ke ano o ka uku ana.
Ina he ia make i ka hapa walu, ea, i hapa umi ka uku, ina he ia make i ka hapa ha i hapa walu ka uku, ina e make i ka hapa lua i hapa ha ka uku.
Pela no ke kike ana, mai ka iki aku a ka nui, o kanaka a pau ma ka pa kuai i kuai i ka ia, ea, e uku lakou i ke kala no ke kuai ana, ina i pale ke kanaka i keia olelo, aole e uku mai, eia kona uku, e kipakuia oia i kahi e, ke hiki i ka wa ulu moku.
Aka ina i kuai na kanaka i ko lakou kumu, i ke kala paha, i lole paha, i na mea e ae o ka moku a pau, alaila aole lakou e uku mai i ke kala, na lakou no ka lakou mea.
Eia kekahi, ke papa aku nei au i na wahine, aole loa lakou e hele ma ka pa kuai, e makaikai aku ai, a e ku wale aku, ua oki lakou i ka hele malaila.
Ina e pale lakou i keia olelo, aole e ae mai, e ukuia lakou i ke kala, akahi hele ana, akahi kala, pela no ka pakahi ana mai ka iki aku a ka nui.
Harieta Nahienaena
Lahaina, Novemba 5, 1833