1. In 1843, King Kamehameha III declared May 3 to be a national holiday in honor of the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy by British Admiral Lord George Paulet.

2. On May 3, 1901, a massive eruption of Kilauea Volcano began and continued for four months, sending rivers of lava flowing through the town of Kapoho and destroying several villages.

3. The first Hawaiian Language Day was celebrated on May 3, 1987, to promote the use and preservation of the Hawaiian language.

4. May 3, 1991, marked the opening of the USS Missouri Memorial on Oahu, which has become a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of the end of World War II.

5. In 2008, the Hawaii State Senate passed a resolution designating May 3 as "Mōʻī Kamehameha Day," to honor King Kamehameha I, who united the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in the late 18th century.