1. Pearl Harbor was a major naval base in Hawaii and on August 12, 1898, the first US flag was raised over the harbor, marking the annexation of Hawaii by the United States.

2. On August 12, 1915, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) was established by the US Geological Survey as a center for studying and monitoring the active volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii.

3. In 1959, Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States and the admission ceremony took place on August 12 at the historic Iolani Palace in Honolulu.

4. On August 12, 1974, Hurricane Iwa made landfall in Hawaii, causing widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure on Kauai and Oahu islands. This was one of the most destructive hurricanes in Hawaiian history.

5. In 1990, Mauna Loa, one of the largest active volcanoes in the world, erupted on August 12, sending lava flows down the eastern slope of the mountain. The eruption lasted for several weeks and caused significant damage to nearby communities.