1. On May 11, 1960, a 9.5 magnitude earthquake struck Chile, causing a massive tsunami that devastated Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. The waves destroyed entire neighborhoods and killed 61 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in Hawaii's history.

2. May 11, 1847, is the birthdate of Mary Elizabeth Mikahala Robinson, the first woman of Hawaiian descent to graduate from medical school. She went on to become a prominent physician and advocate for women's rights in Hawaii.

3. The legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku set a world record on May 11, 1912, by swimming 100 yards in 55.4 seconds. He went on to win five Olympic gold medals for swimming and is credited with spreading the sport of surfing around the world.

4. On May 11, 2011, Hawaii became the seventh state in the United States to legalize same-sex civil unions. The law granted gay and lesbian couples many of the same rights as married couples, including the ability to file joint tax returns and make medical decisions for their partners.

5. May 11, 1893, marks the date of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by a group of American businessmen and politicians known as the Committee of Safety. Queen Liliuokalani was forced to abdicate her throne, marking the end of Hawaii's centuries-old system of self-rule.