1. In 1893, American businessman Claus Spreckels organized a revolution overthrowing the Hawaiian monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, and established a republic in Hawaii. This day is now known as "Republic Day" and is a state holiday in Hawaii.

2. On December 4, 1941, the day before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a Japanese submarine surfaced off the coast of Oahu and fired shells at the passenger ship SS Cynthia Olson, killing one crew member. This was the first direct attack by the Japanese against the United States during World War II.

3. In 1999, Hawaii elected its first female governor, Linda Lingle, on December 4. She served two terms from 2002 to 2010, and was known for her focus on education and tourism.

4. December 4 is also the birthday of Duke Kahanamoku, a native Hawaiian and Olympic gold medalist swimmer who is credited with popularizing surfing and spreading Hawaiian culture around the world. He was born in 1890 and died in 1968.

5. In 2013, a same-sex marriage law went into effect in Hawaii on December 4, making it the 16th state to recognize same-sex marriage. The law was later struck down by the Supreme Court of Hawaii, but same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide in 2015.