The American Protestant missionaries formed the Hawaiian Anti-Slavery Society on June 9, 1841. “The object of this Society shall be to assist in the entire extermination of slavery, by our prayers to God for the release of the enslaved, and by co-operating with those who are engaged in this good work.” “… it is our privilege to sympathize with all who in the spirit of the gospel are making special efforts for the downtrodden slave; and especially that we cannot be guiltless if we neglect to remember those that are in bonds as bound with them; …”

“… and to seek, by all lawful means, to con’er upon all, the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty; therefore, we do hereby agree, seeking the blessing and guidance of God, to form ourselves into an Anti-Slavery Society”. (Preamble, Constitution of the Sandwich Island Anti-Slavery Society, they formed June 9, 1841) Later, King Kamehameha IV declared a neutral stance but held largely Unionist sympathies – as did the majority of people living in Hawaiʻi