1. In 1898, the USS Iowa was commissioned and became the first battleship to be based in Hawaii. The ship would go on to play a significant role in the Spanish-American War and World War I.

2. On July 8, 1911, the first official flight in Hawaii took place. Clarence H. Walker piloted a Wright biplane over the city of Honolulu, marking the beginning of aviation in the state.

3. In 1944, Pahala, a town on the Big Island of Hawaii, experienced a major earthquake that measured 7.1 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and roads in the area.

4. On July 8, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act, granting statehood to Hawaii. The signing took place in Washington, D.C., and was attended by several Hawaiian dignitaries.

5. In 2002, the Hawaii Superferry, a high-speed catamaran that provided transportation between the islands, made its first trial run. The Superferry operated for a few years until it was ultimately shut down due to environmental concerns and legal challenges.