1. In 1826, a group of missionaries arrived in Honolulu to spread Christianity to the Hawaiian people. This marked the beginning of a significant cultural shift in Hawaii. December 23 is now celebrated as Lā Kūʻokoʻa, or Independence Day, in honor of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.

2. On December 23, 1941, just two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Wake Island began. The small, Pacific island was a strategic location for the U.S. military during World War II, and was a crucial point of defense against the Japanese forces. The battle lasted for 15 days, and although the U.S. ultimately lost the island, it marked a significant effort in the war effort.

3. In 1985, Hawaii passed the first statewide smoking ban in the United States. The ban prohibited smoking in enclosed public spaces and set the stage for other states to enact similar legislation. It went into effect on December 23 of that year.

4. The first Aloha Bowl was played on December 23, 1982. The game, which took place at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, featured the Washington State Cougars and the BYU Cougars. BYU emerged victorious with a score of 21-17. The Aloha Bowl remained a popular college football event in Hawaii until the game was discontinued in 2000.

5. On December 23, 2002, the USS Honolulu, an American submarine, ran aground on a reef near Pearl Harbor. The submarine sustained significant damage, but no one was injured in the accident. The incident sparked controversy over the U.S. military's presence in Hawaii, as some locals felt that military exercises were damaging the delicate ecosystem of the area.