On November 1, 1892, Nāwahī was appointed by Queen Liliʻuokalani as Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the short lived Cornwell Cabinet which consisted of William H. Cornwell, Charles T. Gulick and Charles F. Creighton. This cabinet existed for less than a day; it was ousted by the legislature with a vote of 26 to 13. Because he had to resign his spot in the legislature when he was appointed to the cabinet, a special election was held in Hilo to fill the vacant seat. Nāwahī was re-elected to his legislative seat in December by a "substantial majority".