Senator Hiram Fong retires. After elections fill his vacant seat, Daniel Akaka and Cecil Heftel fill House seats vacated by Representatives Spark Matsunaga and Patsy Mink.
Eight Hawaiians "occupy" Kaho'olawe Island to protest the U.S. Navy's use of it as a bombing and shelling target.
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First Greenpeace chapter founded.
Dr. Dale Adams of Kailua is first to kayak the Moloka'i Channel, completing the 32 mile journey in 7.5 hours.
Jim Caldwell is first to swim Pailolo Channel between Maui and Moloka'i (8.5 miles).
Thirteen-year old Robby Naish of Kailua, O'ahu wins the world windsurfing championship.
David McFaull and Michael Rothwell win Hawaii's first Olympic sailing medals, garnering silver in Montreal.
Former governor
William Quinn runs for political office again but loses U.S. Senate race to Spark Matsunaga.
Spark Matsunaga elected to the U.S. Senate where one of his achievements is obtaining redress for Japanese Americans unjustly interned during WWII.
Honolulu City Councilmen Wilbert Holck and Frank Loo close out the year's debates with a fistfight.
Future governor
John Waihee graduates with the first University of Hawai'i law school class.
