Designing Hawaii's Commemorative Quarter - Chapter 2

[pzarquon]

Final five designs chosen for Hawai'i's state quarter (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Dec/21/br/br2386057149.html)
Three images of King Kamehameha the Great, including one with Diamond Head as a backdrop, a hula dancer and a surfer off Waikiki were selected today by a special advisory commission as candidates for the face of the nation's last of 50 state commemorative quarters.

The Hawai'i Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission made the selection at an emergency meeting this morning.

Commission members originally thought they had until next month to submit their choices to the U.S. Mint, but were told Dec. 13 that they had until tomorrow, said Marsha Wienert, state tourism liaison and advisor to the commission.

[Leo Lakio]

Final five designs chosen for Hawai'i's state quarter (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Dec/21/br/br2386057149.html)Time for this thread to get a poll?

[Glen Miyashiro]

While I'm not crazy about the classical-Roman-emperor pose of the Kamehameha statue, I'm willing to go with one of those three designs if it means that a U.S. coin will have "Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono" written on it. :D

[kamuelakea]

There you go again Hawaii. 3 out of 5 of the selections have KING Kamehameha on them. Isn't it odd to anyone else, especially Hawaiians, that we are CELEBRATING AMERICAN STATEHOOD, with a design for an American coin, and yet the mostly non-Hawaiian immigrant voices choose the ulitmate symbol for the now overthrown Hawaiian Monarchy?

Disconnect?

I'm not surprised. This is more of the same. Immigrants to Hawaii using elements of Hawaiiana and History to make themselves feel more Hawaiian. To stick in the face of outsider mainlaners "We are different from you".

A lei, Diamond Head, the islands all make sense. Using the King whose country was overtaken is rude.

[joshuatree]

Or maybe these immigrants are merely trying to acknowledge Hawaii's history?

[Glen Miyashiro]

There you go again Hawaii. 3 out of 5 of the selections have KING Kamehameha on them. Isn't it odd to anyone else, especially Hawaiians, that we are CELEBRATING AMERICAN STATEHOOD, with a design for an American coin, and yet the mostly non-Hawaiian immigrant voices choose the ulitmate symbol for the now overthrown Hawaiian Monarchy?

Disconnect?

I'm not surprised. This is more of the same. Immigrants to Hawaii using elements of Hawaiiana and History to make themselves feel more Hawaiian. To stick in the face of outsider mainlaners "We are different from you".

A lei, Diamond Head, the islands all make sense. Using the King whose country was overtaken is rude.But didn't you know? Kamehameha was an Amazing American (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=5664). It says so, right there in America's Library (http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/aa/leaders/kamehameh). :rolleyes:

[Pua'i Mana'o]

on a tangent:

the history of the KtG statue is pretty amazing. Kalakaua commissioned for it in 1880, and it was made in Europe, the original falling off a ship and never making it to Hawaii, until it was salvaged from the deep waters off of South America in 1912, and that original is located right on the main road in Kohala.

While Kalakaua took great pains to find Hawaiian males with good bodies to model it, not enough attention was paid to the rest of the statue, for example:

--the Hawaiian mana'o of raising one's hand upwards is offensive in the context of a king (beggars raised their hand this way imploring for charity, or derisively meaning "whatcha gonna give me?"). And his body weight should have been even on his two feet, not cocked to the side.

--wearing a kihei and an 'ahu'ula is wrong; Kamehameha should have been only wearing an 'ahu'ula (feather cape).

--he should have been barefoot

Cannot fault the Europeans for not knowing this when they made the statue. The European behavior of a king is all they knew. But TODAY, we grow up seeing this image of KtG, and we begin to accept these behaviors as Hawaiian ones, because we don't know any better. In this respect, I believe that there needs to be new, more authentic KtG statues commissioned, keep the original one in Kohala because of historical factor and as a mahalo to Kalakaua for his efforts, And replace the replicas in HNL and Hilo.

Regarding that quarter:

--I am of two thoughts regarding our motto on that quarter: KtG didn't utter those words, KIII (my man!) did. It is weird to see one's son's words next to his memorialized image. The ea of this aina will always be pono no matter what authority (which are cyclical anyway) sits upon it. Ea is deeper than political. It is spiritual and the ea of this aina will always, always be pono. Commemoration upon a coin does not, cannot, upstage the mana of the mana'o.

--if there is an alii whose face belongs on an American quarter, let it be the image of an alii who thought highly enough of the US who considered entreating its authority. It is fact that a few of our alii moi did, and their image, if any, is more appropropriate. The head of this list, in my strong opinion, is Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole.

[kamuelakea]

--if there is an alii whose face belongs on an American quarter, let it be the image of an alii who thought highly enough of the US who considered entreating its authority. It is fact that a few of our alii moi did, and their image, if any, is more appropropriate. The head of this list, in my strong opinion, is Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole.

Wow, even more reasons to not use real native Hawaiian symbol for an American coin. Hula girl with plastic "hula skirt", surfers, coconut trees, sushi, sticky white rice, char siu bao. Those are the symbols of modern American Hawaii.

Leave the King alone. He belongs to Hawaiians and Hawaiian history, not American mintage trivialization.

Once again, the immigrants of Hawaii slowly attempt to redefine what it is to be a Hawaiian. And most Hawaiians don't even see it. So maybe Hawaiians deserve to be replaced with modern plantationism.

Another trivia.

The "model" who stood for the statue was as much Haole as Hawaiian. John Baker was the name. Maybe more Haole, I'm not sure.

Funny kine.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Wow, even more reasons to not use real native Hawaiian symbol for an American coin. Hula girl with plastic "hula skirt", surfers, coconut trees, sushi, sticky white rice, char siu bao. Those are the symbols of modern American Hawaii.

no, that is the extent of YOUR experience with modern Hawai'i.

Leave the King alone. He belongs to Hawaiians and Hawaiian history, not American mintage trivialization.

Learn your history. Who was Kuhio? When did he live? Under what government did he participate? What is his legacy? Don't quote me about the King™, because that isn't what I said.

Once again, the immigrants of Hawaii slowly attempt to redefine what it is to be a Hawaiian. And most Hawaiians don't even see it. So maybe Hawaiians deserve to be replaced with modern plantationism.

I have read many of your comments on this issue, but never are you able to articulate the specific problem you have, nevermind offer a viable solution.

If you don't like the immigrants who came up with the design, come up with your own native one.

If you think "most Hawaiians don't even see it", you don't know most Hawaiians, because I, way moreso than you (unless you are a townie, which you most likely are) am from the rural homestead, where us kanakz live.

If you think Hawaiians deserve to be replaced with modern plantationism, I call bullshit on that. Just because you don't know, we know.

Scrap the pidgin and make a sound point. Obligate yourself to reading up on Hawaiian history, and not that "Shoal of Time" smarm, because Kamuela, you are so frustrated and so institutionalized, and the thousands of us are trying to move beyond that.

So exhale!

[kamuelakea]

If you think Hawaiians deserve to be replaced with modern plantationism, I call bullshit on that. Just because you don't know, we know.

You make me laugh. You don’t get it. Making a STATE OF HAWAII coin design should not be based entirely upon symbols of the INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED KINGDOM OF HAWAII. It’s not a matter of being PC. It’s a matter of being accurate.

I do have ideas that are more appropriate. Put your sushi, put your Portuguese Sausage, put your kimono based "aloha shirt", put your rubbah sippahz. Those are images of the STATE OF HAWAII

Not King Kamehameha.

[kamuelakea]

I have read many of your comments on this issue, but never are you able to articulate the specific problem you have, nevermind offer a viable solution.

Then you don’t read well.

"To Steal a Kingdom" was a book about the Haole overthrow.

But there is a second theft going on that will be far more detrimental to the future existence of Native Hawaiian people and culture. That is the slow, insidious replacement of many things Hawaiian with plantation culture. It’s been happening for 100 years. Hawaiians like you don’t know or don’t care or can’t understand it.

This Kamehameha on an American coin for the STATE OF HAWAII is just another example.

[Leo Lakio]

Kamuelakea: please learn about the multi-quote function; thanks.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

genius, I AGREE with you about KtG not belonging on the quarter. And I read well; you, on the other hand, keep typing on about him being on the quarter.

But I disagree with you and your very 20th century Don Ho--is--Hawaii suggestions. For real: where have you been in these last four decades? Stuck in traffic in HNL? Get *plenty* progressive Hawaiian movement. So get off your rock and come and meet us, unwind, stretch your thinking and find some faith in the fact that we aren't morphing into what you accuse us of. There is so much you don't know and don't see, Kamuela. From one Hawaiian to another, it saddens me. Truly, truly.

Then you don’t read well.

"To Steal a Kingdom" was a book about the Haole overthrow.

But there is a second theft going on that will be far more detrimental to the future existence of Native Hawaiian people and culture. That is the slow, insidious replacement of many things Hawaiian with plantation culture. It’s been happening for 100 years. Hawaiians like you don’t know or don’t care or can’t understand it.

This Kamehameha on an American coin for the STATE OF HAWAII is just another example.

And the last 30+ years have been about sovereignty, Hawaiian language revitalization, reprinting Hawaiian books so that we can learn our own history, native Hawaiian charter schools, Hawaiian immersion schools, increased awareness on all levels about our political, social, cultural, health and religious past and vibrant discussions about our reality and future. There is the Hawaiian brain economy that has a greater proportion of influence in the kua'aina communities than ever before. 'Ai me ka i'a (bread and butter) stuff, not just fanciful notions. Community change.

With no apologies.

======

edited to add one more thing:

Hawaiians like me live, thrive, raise our children, and will die in pursuit of not only understanding it, but taking responsibility to move our people forward. Be very careful of how you accuse Hawaiians like me, Kamuelakea.

[Palolo Joe]

Be very careful of how you accuse Hawaiians like me, Kamuelakea.
At the same time, be very careful about the threats you throw around on this board.

[kamuelakea]

Be very careful of how you accuse Hawaiians like me, Kamuelakea.


Is that a threat?

[craigwatanabe]

MAYBE there shouldn't be a Hawaiian Quarter at all. I think the absence of one would bring to light the reasons why we cannot agree on a design in the first place.

For every coin collector that collects these state quarters, they'll find one spot missing on that cardboard placard because history will dictate that the Hawaiian Quarter never came to be because it was never meant to be.

The missing quarter...sometimes the absence of a statement speaks stronger than any action that can be uttered.

[beaker]

Another HT trailwreck... :D :p

[joshuatree]

How about an inverted Hawaiian flag? Or is it really right side up depending how you look at the coin? Problem solved for everybody. :D

[craigwatanabe]

How about an inverted Hawaiian flag? Or is it really right side up depending how you look at the coin? Problem solved for everybody. :D

It's the Hawaiian flag flown upside down indicating distress. But on a coin one would be hard pressed to look at the orientation of the coin and would simply turn the coin around to view it right side up and totally not see the virtue of it's statement.

[joshuatree]

It's the Hawaiian flag flown upside down indicating distress. But on a coin one would be hard pressed to look at the orientation of the coin and would simply turn the coin around to view it right side up and totally not see the virtue of it's statement.

That's my point, no bickering since it represents what it wants for everybody.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

At the same time, be very careful about the threats you throw around on this board.

don't you accuse me of making threats! Pointing out the karma one earns is NOT a threat.

Is that a threat?

rising to your ignorant accusation is pono, Kamuelakea. You keep spinning, pissed off at demographics and rising tides, and it is eating you up. Get back to the aina, Kamuelakea! Find your piko and make a pono change, because we, you, I, our people, need us strong.

[kamuelakea]

That's my point, no bickering since it represents what it wants for everybody.

Everybody wouldn't agree on this either. There are plenty of people who like Hawaii the way it is. Huge numbers of current residents arrived in Hawaii in the last 30 years probably like Hawaii as it is. The Thurston Twigg-Smiths seem to feel that Hawaii is only better because of the end of the monarchy. Many plantation Asian enjoy their numerical dominance of contemporary Hawaii and their ability to trick most of the world into thinking that they are actually modern Hawaiians.

Why can't these people get together and pick a symbol for Hawaii that conveys modern American Hawaii for this Hawaii-as-an-AMerican-State coin project?? Wouldn't it make more sense to use modern culture or at least generic neutral geography? Why do they have to take images from the destroyed Hawaiian Nation when questions remain regarding whether Hawaii is even a legal state?

Why? Because Hawaii's immigrants love to use symbols of the Hawaiian Nation to their own benefit. That's why. It feeds their identity crisis. It happens a million times a day in different ways all over Hawaii every day. Happens so much, real Hawaiians don't even know its happening.

There is much to be proud of in modern American Hawaii. No shame. There must be some symbol or picture that represents the pride of Hawaii's American population? No? You guys don't need to use the Nation of Hawaii for your modern American needs. See???

[Palolo Joe]

don't you accuse me of making threats! Pointing out the karma one earns is NOT a threat.
Ummm... bullshit.

You make some strong arguments, but you do not speak for all Hawaiians. Definitely not this Hawaiian.

And are Oahu kanaks any less Hawaiian than Big Island kanaks? Does it really matter if you one townie or one country kid?

If you're gonna act all high-and-mighty, try not to turn right around and threaten people in the same thread. Kills your credibility.

[joshuatree]

Everybody wouldn't agree on this either. There are plenty of people who like Hawaii the way it is. Huge numbers of current residents arrived in Hawaii in the last 30 years probably like Hawaii as it is. The Thurston Twigg-Smiths seem to feel that Hawaii is only better because of the end of the monarchy. Many plantation Asian enjoy their numerical dominance of contemporary Hawaii and their ability to trick most of the world into thinking that they are actually modern Hawaiians.

Why can't these people get together and pick a symbol for Hawaii that conveys modern American Hawaii for this Hawaii-as-an-AMerican-State coin project?? Wouldn't it make more sense to use modern culture or at least generic neutral geography? Why do they have to take images from the destroyed Hawaiian Nation when questions remain regarding whether Hawaii is even a legal state?

Why? Because Hawaii's immigrants love to use symbols of the Hawaiian Nation to their own benefit. That's why. It feeds their identity crisis. It happens a million times a day in different ways all over Hawaii every day. Happens so much, real Hawaiians don't even know its happening.

There is much to be proud of in modern American Hawaii. No shame. There must be some symbol or picture that represents the pride of Hawaii's American population? No? You guys don't need to use the Nation of Hawaii for your modern American needs. See???

I see no reason why the flag itself would be a bad choice. It was the flag during the monarchy, it is the flag of the state now. It represents the past as well as the modern Hawaii state.

I don't know why you keep addressing descendants of Asians who came to work on plantations as plantation Asians. Their ancestors may have worked the fields but they have nothing to do with plantations anymore. Do you address Blacks as plantation Blacks considering their ancestors were slaves in the US mostly working those cotton plantations?

I also don't know why you tend to single out immigrants of recent years as your enemy. Of all the people, they would be the ones that really had nothing to do with the illegal overthrow of the monarchy. Not only that, many children of these recent immigrants grew up in schools teaching about the history of what transpired so they are well aware of the issue.

What identity crisis? Did you have a bad experience with some non Kanaka Maoli that insisted they were? Most people might casually say they are "Hawaiian" in reference to where they grew up and what is considered their hometown, but usually the next question they encounter is, "Do you have Hawaiian blood?" That's when they usually explain no, that they just grew up in the state of Hawaii. I'm not Kanaka Maoli but I don't have an ID issue. I try to say I'm from Hawaii but sometimes it's quicker and easier to say and also sometimes the context of the conversation too. "Hi, I'm a New Yorker." Or, "Hi, I'm a Californian." So it would seem to casually flow as "Hi, I'm a Hawaiian." Is that what's ruffling your feathers?

Hawaii's immigrants love to use symbols of the Hawaiian Nation to their benefit? Well, look around. In the business world, people copy off other people to make a buck, don't matter if you're white, black, brown, yellow, purple, green. Are you telling me no Kanaka Maoli is using symbols from other places for their benefit? Also, what's the number one industry in Hawaii? Tourism. Why do people come to Hawaii? To visit and see Hawaiiana. So what do you want these Hawaii immigrants to offer them? A bento box? A hamburger? Sell them a Banana Republic shirt and tie? Sure there is some of that, but it's gonna mostly be symbols of the Hawaiian nation because that's what their customers want. I don't think there is any law that prohibits Kanaka Maoli from doing the same business as these immigrants.

Personally, I hope they don't choose the Kamehameha designs, not because of the political implications, but it's just so played out, so cliche.

Btw, if you're so caught up in this "theft" of the Hawaiian nation, you do realize that the flag of Hawaii actually has the Union Jack? So I ask, why are you stealing symbols from the British? ;)

[pzarquon]

From the guidelines (http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/50sq_program/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=criteria):State flags and state seals are not considered suitable for designs.Besides, the door for introducing new ideas has long since closed. We've got our finalists, and it's going to be (conceptually) one of the set announced this week.

I know the King Kamehameha statue -- in real life and in reproductions -- is striking a European pose and may not even be modeled after a Hawaiian, let alone Kamehameha. But it's at least more 'islandwide' than Leahi/Diamond Head, which seems more an icon of Waikiki to me. And at least it does emphasize that there was a monarchy here. School children nationwide are regularly assigned "state history" projects... a few more kids in Kansas wondering who "that guy" is can't hurt.

I'd also love to see Hawaiian language represented, and thus the motto.

I desperately, desperately hope it doesn't say "aloha." Which means it probably will.

[kamuelakea]

What identity crisis?


I can't respond to all of your points without getting significantly off topic.

But might I suggest that when someone asks you where you are from, say Hawaii if that's the case.

If someone asks "What are you?", then say "American".

If they continue, then if you want to, you can say you are Japanese, Filipino or whatever. Or tell them none of their business or better yet say "what are you?" first. That always throws the haoles off a little.

You should NEVER say you are Hawaiian. It takes no more or less energy to say you are "from Hawaii". There is never a justification to say you are "Hawaiian" if you are not,..... unless you have an identity crisis...... and many people in Hawaii do.

That's why they picked 3 out of 5 coins to have the Native Hawaiian King who's country was eventually overthrown and taken over by the State of Hawaii on their coin.

[craigwatanabe]

This is why I strongly believe that no design be submitted and that Hawaii forfeits the opportunity to be among the 50 states to commerate it's existance as one.

The absence of the 50th state quarter on those cardboard keepsake boards will speak more loudly than one that is misinterpreted by the masses.

The absence will tell the rest of the union that Hawaii was and never should have been part of the USA in the first place.

[beaker]

The absence will tell the rest of the union that Hawaii was and never should have been part of the USA in the first place.

Cry me a river... Waaaahhhh! :rolleyes:

[craigwatanabe]

Cry me a river... Waaaahhhh! :rolleyes:

I didn't get that one:confused:

[kamuelakea]

This is why I strongly believe that no design be submitted and that Hawaii forfeits the opportunity to be among the 50 states to commerate it's existance as one.

I agree that absence can be stronger than presence. But most of Hawaii doesn't agree with you. So why rain on their parade. Let them celebrate the modern State of Hawaii. Just don't use obvious symbols of the Hawaiian Nation.

How about George Ariyoshi smiling with a caption "quiet and effective".
How about the Carpenters, Electrician and Plumbers union seals since they own Hawaii.
How about "Hawaii, the one party state".

Lots of good choices. No need Hawaiian symbols.

[Mike_Lowery]

a broken-into rental car, a single mother with 4 kids working 3 jobs, with the words "Altruism--The Aloha Spirit!", and a timeshare in the background

[1stwahine]

I stayed away from this thread for a reason...it was too ugly for the season. But now I want to say something cause I'm intoxicated on my pupule arse...

wait...wat' thread about?:confused:

heheheh...

Merry Christmas Eveybody!

Your opinions are solid and read equally!

Auntie LYNN:D

[admin]

Adding a poll to this thread. Here are the options:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/hithreads/hawaiiquarters.jpg

[craigwatanabe]

I don't get it...options 4 and 5 look somewhat identical. Same stance same island references.

[Miulang]

I don't get it...options 4 and 5 look somewhat identical. Same stance same island references.
The main difference between #4 and #5 is the little line in #4 that Kamehameha appears to be standing on, he is slightly larger (and the islands slightly smaller), and the state motto is not centered in that one. Aethestically, I think #5 looks better, but I don't like either.

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Ahhh...our state quarter should be blank on the back with these three letters: MIA.

[kamuelakea]

The mainland commission wisely agreed (for similar reasons to my own) that King Kamehameha on the Hawaii quarter would be a mistake. They know that it seems silly and confusing for a monarch to be put on a coin CELEBRATING STATEHOOD, when the Hawaiian Nation was at least in part taken over by the United STATES 100 years after Kamehameha in order to create the State of Hawaii.

And the geniuses of Hawaii pick 3 out of 5 with KING Kamehameha on it.

All part of the neo-faux-Hawaiian-wannabee movement of the modern plantation asian period.

[pzarquon]

Hawaii quarter designs under scrutiny (http://starbulletin.com/2007/02/02/news/story04.html)
KING Kamehameha I might have sway over the islands, but at least one mainland organization has nixed him from Hawaii's commemorative quarter. Last month, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts rejected, for their weak composition, all five designs sent by the Hawaii Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission. Three of the drawings included King Kamehameha I. But not all is lost for Kamehameha. Another organization that reviews states' proposed quarter designs, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, has recommended keeping the king on the coin.The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts apparently favors simpler designs, thinks the proposals "were too cluttered and 'visually confusing,'" and unsurprisingly thinks Leahi (Diamond Head) would be a better icon. But the CCAC favored King Kamehameha and the Hawaiian language (settling for 'Aloha' over the state motto).

These are all outside groups weighing in -- the final word comes from U.S. secretary of the Treasury. Since this is the last quarter in a series that people have been collecting for years, there's no question the Hawaii quarter will get much more scrutiny than most.

I can see the cluttered thing -- some other states' quarters are incomprehensible without a magnifying glass. But if it's gotta be one icon and not three, seems like Kamehameha has a lot of support. Leahi, after all, epitomizes Honolulu and Waikiki, while Kamehameha is most certainly statewide.

[joshuatree]

Just have a surfboard with a lei wrapped around it and call it a day. Simple yet says Hawaii, old and new.

[PoiBoy]

How about put Sanford Ballard Dole's face on it.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Kuhio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhio) would be a fine and appropriate face for the quarter.

[kiwidiva]

I only just got this and the deadline is today but I thought some of you quicksters might like to vote so here's the link...

http://www.hawaii.gov/polls/index.php?pollsID=1

[Miulang]

Gov. Lingle chose the design (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Apr/23/br/br3971248056.html)that most people polled also liked (#4).
Yay.:o

Miulang

[kamuelakea]

What a joke. The ultimate Hawaiian wannabee selection. Once again the immigrant power brokers of Hawaii, with the blessing of the 90% immigrant population, use the original Hawaiian Nations King, whose nation was overthrown with the help of the United States and ultimately annexed by the United States, along with a Hawaiian passage written in the Hawaiian Language. All so that the Plantation Asians, Haole wannabees and every other immgrant can pretend to be Hawaiian.

This is another, albeit small, example of psychological genocide.

I can't wait until all the Oklahoma Haoles start sticking feathers in their hair, start honoring Indian Chiefs and start throwing tribal languages around as though they are Indians. As silly as that sounds, that describes Hawaii today.

One million Hawaiian wannabees with an identity crisis.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Kamuela, I thought of you when I read the paper this morning. To see our king's image upon the coin of another govt, and another king's important and uplifting motto tore at my na'au. Pehea ke ea o ka aina ina ma lalo o ko ha'i pono?

[joshuatree]

Kamuela, I thought of you when I read the paper this morning. To see our king's image upon the coin of another govt, and another king's important and uplifting motto tore at my na'au. Pehea ke ea o ka aina ina ma lalo o ko ha'i pono?

I thought there was some law/rule that prevented "foreign" figureheads to appear on US currency? If there is, maybe someone can invoke that? I personally don't like this design at all. So cliche and no offense to Kamehameha. I don't have an ID crisis as Kamuela likes to summarize us non Kanaka Maolis. The surfing one is what I rather prefer as it's less political and more representative of the current Hawaii.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I thought there was some law/rule that prevented "foreign" figureheads to appear on US currency? If there is, maybe someone can invoke that? I personally don't like this design at all. So cliche and no offense to Kamehameha. I don't have an ID crisis as Kamuela likes to summarize us non Kanaka Maolis. The surfing one is what I rather prefer as it's less political and more representative of the current Hawaii.

I think Ala Moana Center represents current Hawaii better than any other image. :p

[Lei K]

What a joke.

This selection saddens me. I can't believe so many people chose to have the king on there. I wonder why the people who voted for it believed it to be the best selection?

I was with Craig, Hawai`i not having it's own quarter wouldn't have hurt my feelings.

I can't wait until all the Oklahoma Haoles start sticking feathers in their hair, start honoring Indian Chiefs and start throwing tribal languages around as though they are Indians. As silly as that sounds, that describes Hawaii today.

One million Hawaiian wannabees with an identity crisis.

Though this sounds extreme it would be comparable to what goes on with Hawaiian culture. I see this A LOT on the CONUS. There is a man at my husband's work who is from O'ahu. This man tells everyone he is half Hawaiian-half white. Everyone talks about this new guy as being so Hawaiian and exotic. My husband, upon hearing this, went to go talk story with the guy. He loves to talk story with locals and dis guy half Kanaka? Whoa, he li talk story even more, see if there is any relation to my 'ohana, same island and all, neva know. By the end of the conversation the guy confessed, he was haole-kepani. Nobody at my husband's work knows any better or asked him any questions so he played it for what it was worth to da max. He used "Hawaiian" as in Kanaka Maoli, not just from Hawai`i.

A few years back there was a man at my husband's work (different guy) who made the safety videos for new people to watch. During the opening credits it said "Made by Kahuna Productions." My husband asks the guy who made the video, "Do you know what Kahuna means?" The guy said, "Nope, just thought it sounded cool." My husband wen tell him what a Kahuna was but I think the guy neva wen change anything.

I got ukamillion other examples from da CONUS.

[kamuelakea]

Kamuela, I thought of you when I read the paper this morning. To see our king's image upon the coin of another govt, and another king's important and uplifting motto tore at my na'au. Pehea ke ea o ka aina ina ma lalo o ko ha'i pono?

Howzit Aunty,

Hoe, I tot I waz one chread keela. But luky you no skayahd.

What makes me sad is that these things happen and just about NO ONE, not even Hawaiians, recognize the significance.

Its all done to make Hawaiians forget that they are Hawaiians. The Plantation Asians, the Haole Wannabees and the cookoo Ken Conklins are all in agreement with this kind of psychological genocide.

But if most Hawaiians don't care, maybe they deserve to be ripped off one final time. (sad sarcasm, not my true feelings)

[Pua'i Mana'o]

you should see some of the r/l discussions around our water cooler on this quarter. Plenty of my kanaks think that KtG's image, along with the isles, along with KIII's motto is a bitchslap against the US govt ("our king and our Hawaiianness rules your money" attitude). The other half of us believe quite the opposite. Pretty provacative stuff.

[Miulang]

Instead of that European depiction of Kamehameha, I think it would have been better to have a Nene or a Humuhumu or even a hibiscus. I doubt any of those other symbols of Hawai'i would have generated as much controversy as the back of the Hawai'i quarter will. The WA State quarter (http://www.governor.wa.gov/quarter/default.htm)just came out. It has a picture of Mt. Rainier and a salmon on it. Totally noncontroversial.

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Instead of that European depiction of Kamehameha, I think it would have been better to have a Nene or a Humuhumu or even a hibiscus. I doubt any of those other symbols of Hawai'i would have generated as much controversy as the back of the Hawai'i quarter will. The WA State quarter (http://www.governor.wa.gov/quarter/default.htm)just came out. It has a picture of Mt. Rainier and a salmon on it. Totally noncontroversial.

Miulang


They could've put the MicroSoft wavy flag there or the Starbucks logo and really made a sensation:D

[Miulang]

They could've put the MicroSoft wavy flag there or the Starbucks logo and really made a sensation:D
Nah, we got too many PC folks up here. They could also have put an apple on the coin...I think that's the State fruit. Hmmm...wonder what the State vegetable is? Asparagus maybe?

Miulang

[craigwatanabe]

Amazing the state fruit is the Apple and Microsoft home based there? This sounds ominous here.

[Miulang]

Amazing the state fruit is the Apple and Microsoft home based there? This sounds ominous here.
Even though its corporate HQ is now in Chicago, I think more people associate BOEING with Washington State (primarily because it employs way more people in Washington State than Squishy does). So maybe a Dreamliner on the back of the coin would have been interesting.

Miulang