1. In 1843, the British monarchy recognized Hawaii as an independent nation.

On February 1, 1843, Lord George Paulet of the British Royal Navy arrived in Honolulu and demanded that King Kamehameha III cede his kingdom to the British crown. Paulet held Hawaii under British rule for five months, but eventually, through negotiations, the king regained control of his kingdom. The incident, known as the Paulet Affair, led to the recognition of Hawaii as an independent nation by Britain and other world powers.

2. In 1867, the Kamehameha V Post Office opened in Honolulu.

Named after King Kamehameha V, this post office served as the main mail distribution center in Hawaii for over a century. It was the first Hawaiian post office to use postage stamps and to offer home delivery service. Today, the building still stands, serving as the Hawaii State Art Museum.

3. In 1893, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown.

On February 1, 1893, a group of foreign businessmen and residents, supported by the United States government, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and established the Republic of Hawaii. The coup d'état was devastating for the Hawaiian people and marked the end of the Hawaiian monarchy.

4. In 1965, the first Elvis Presley concert in Hawaii took place.

Elvis Presley performed for the first time in Hawaii on February 1, 1961, at the Bloch Arena in Honolulu. The concert was a benefit for the USS Arizona Memorial Fund and was later recorded for a live album, "Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite," which was broadcasted worldwide in 1973.

5. In 2009, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was expanded.

On February 1, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which included provisions to expand the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary, established in 1992, protects the habitat of the humpback whale, which migrate to Hawaii each winter to mate and give birth. Today, the sanctuary covers an area of 1,400 square miles and is a popular destination for whale watching tours.