1. In 1778, famed British explorer Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands on January 9th. He initially named the islands the Sandwich Islands, in honor of his patron, the Earl of Sandwich.

2. On January 9, 1795, a skirmish known as the Battle of Nuuanu took place on the island of Oahu. The battle occurred between Kamehameha the Great and the forces of Maui chief Kalanikupule. Kamehameha emerged victorious and went on to unify the Hawaiian Islands under his rule.

3. In 1893, on the 9th of January, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani, was forced to abdicate her throne after a coup led by American businessmen and politicians.

4. January 9, 1942, marked a pivotal moment in Hawaii's history as the islands were attacked by Japanese forces during World War II. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 Americans and propelled the United States' entry into the war.

5. In 2020, on January 9th, Hawaii became the 26th state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The new law eliminated the possibility of jail time for those caught with 3 grams or less of marijuana and reduced the maximum fine to $130.