The Democratic Party of Hawaii was formed on April 30 , 1900 by supporters of the queen in the wake of a plague quarantine in Honolulu . The meeting brought together five men : John H. Wilson , son of Marshal of the Kingdom Charles B. Wilson ; John S. McGrew , a doctor and supporter of Kalākaua ; Charles J. McCarthy , a saloon owner and former Honolulu Rifle ; David Kawānanakoa , prince of the House of Kawānanakoa ; and Delbert Evener Metzger , an engineer from Kaua'i . The group believed that it was necessary for a party in Hawaii , now a region of the US , to have a national counterpart to survive and established the Democratic Party of Hawaii . The intention of the party was to promote Jeffersonian philosophy and home rule . Following the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy , the Reform Party of Hawaii seized control of government and intended to annex Hawaii to the United States . The reformers became affiliated with the Republican Party for this support of Hawaii 's annexation in contrast to the Democrats ' opposition . The American Union Party became the regional Republican party in Hawaii , leaving the Democratic Party for any opposition group . The first convention of the Democratic Party of Hawaii was held on May 16 that year and was attended by 500 people . Later that year , Kawānanakoa attended the 1900 Democratic National Convention in Kansas City , becoming the first royal attendee . At the convention , Kawānanakoa formed an affiliation between the Democratic Party of Hawaii and the Democratic Party of the United States
1900 Democratic National Convention
1900 Democratic National Convention
Democratic Party of Hawaii