1. On January 8, 1894, the Republic of Hawaii was officially proclaimed, marking the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the beginning of a new era of government in Hawaii.

2. In 1959, January 8 marked the day that Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States, after a long struggle for statehood that had begun more than a decade earlier. The day is celebrated annually as Statehood Day in Hawaii.

3. Several important figures in Hawaiian history were born on January 8, including Queen Liliuokalani (1838-1917), the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and Kanalu Young (1953-2008), a Native Hawaiian advocate for disabled people and the environment.

4. On January 8, 1942, a Japanese submarine launched torpedoes at the USS Tambor, a United States Navy submarine, off the coast of Oahu. Although the torpedoes missed their target and caused no damage, the incident served as a reminder of the ongoing conflict in the Pacific during World War II.

5. January 8 is also the date of the annual Waimea Ocean Film Festival, which showcases the best in ocean-related films and documentaries from around the world. The festival, which takes place on the Big Island of Hawaii, includes screenings, workshops, and special events celebrating ocean culture and conservation.