1. On May 8, 1843, King Kauikeaouli Kamehameha III of the Kingdom of Hawaii declared that he would neither seek nor accept any treaties with foreign powers that would impair Hawaiian sovereignty. This declaration, now known as the "Great Mahele" or "Great Divide," established the concept of private property in Hawaii and led to significant changes in land ownership.

2. May 8, 1934, marked the opening of the historic Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, the theater was one of the most grandiose structures in Hawaii at the time of its unveiling. Today, the Hawaii Theatre hosts a variety of performances, including concerts, plays, and movies.

3. In 1972, the United States Congress passed the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which protected the rights of Native Americans to practice their traditional religions. This law also recognized the spiritual significance of many Native Hawaiian practices and paved the way for greater legal protections for Hawaiian cultural practices.

4. May 8, 1992, marked the release of the US Federal Court decision in the case of Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The case centered around the claim that the State of Hawaii and the United States government had illegally taken Hawaiian lands and resources. The ruling established that the state did not have the right to dispose of any of the land or natural resources that had been held in trust for Native Hawaiians.

5. On May 8, 2018, Hawaii became the first state in the US to ban the use of certain pesticides that have been linked to serious health issues. The new law bans specific types of pesticides that have been shown to cause cancer, developmental disorders, and other health problems in humans and animals. The law represents a major victory for environmental and public health advocates who have been pushing for stricter pesticide regulations in Hawaii and across the country.