Honolulu Rifles

The Honolulu Rifle Company (also known as the Honolulu Rifles or more plainly the Rifles) was a paramilitary force loyal to the Missionary Party and the later Reform Party. It was created in 1854 as a militia to deal with internal conflict, 24 Rifles were deployed during the 1873 Barracks Revolt. In 1887 they secretly allied with the Missionary Party and were the armed force in the 1887 Rebellion that made King David Kalākaua of Hawaii sign the Bayonet Constitution at gun point (with fixed bayonets, hence the name of the constitution). The following elections brought the Missionary party to power and the Rifles filled the role of protecting the legislature. They defended the constitution in the Wilcox rebellion and were the main force in the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. After the overthrow, the Honolulu Rifles were incorporated into the new military created on January 27, 1893 by the Provisional Government. The Honolulu Rifles became the army’s D Company commanded by Captain John Good and the B Company of the National Guard of Hawaii commanded by Captain Hugh Gunn. The two companies were active under the Provisional Government of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii. After Hawaii was annexed becoming the Territory of Hawaii in 1898 the Rifles entered the Army National Guard system and became part of the present Hawaii Army National Guard.