1. In 1795, the Battle of Kepaniwai took place on April 17 between Hawaiian forces led by King Kamehameha I and Maui warriors. The Hawaiian forces emerged victorious, paving the way for Kamehameha to unify the islands.

2. On April 17, 1964, the final piece of the 13.6-mile-long H-3 freeway on Oahu was completed. The freeway provides a scenic route through the Koʻolau mountains between Kaneohe and Honolulu.

3. April 17, 1946 marks the opening of the Aloha Tower Marketplace in Honolulu. The iconic 10-story tower was built in 1926 and was the tallest structure in Hawaii until 1963.

4. In 1975, the first-ever Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) began on April 17. The festival showcases films from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and North America, and is now one of the longest-running film festivals in the country.

5. The USS Hawaii (SSN-776), a Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned on April 17, 2007. It is the first U.S. Navy vessel to be named after the state of Hawaii.