How to Identify the 2008 Hawaii State Quarter
A visual guide to the 2008 Hawaii quarter, the final release in the 50 State Quarters series, featuring King Kamehameha I and the Hawaiian island chain.
Read the full 2008 Hawaii State Quarter encyclopedia entry →
What It Is
The 2008 Hawaii quarter was the 50th and final coin issued in the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters program (1999-2008), honoring Hawaii, the 50th state admitted to the Union in 1959.
Obverse (Front)
The obverse carries the same Washington portrait used throughout the series: Washington faces left, with "LIBERTY" above, "IN GOD WE TRUST" beside his neck, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" arcing along the rim, and the date "2008" below the bust.
Reverse (Back)
The reverse features a standing statue of King Kamehameha I, arm extended, with an outline of the Hawaiian island chain in the background. "HAWAII" arcs above, the Hawaiian phrase "UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO" (the state motto, meaning roughly "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness") curves below, and "1959" (statehood year) appears near the bottom with "QUARTER DOLLAR."
Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge
It measures 24.3 mm in diameter and weighs 5.67 grams in copper-nickel clad composition, with a reeded edge. Silver proof versions from collector sets weigh 6.25 grams and are 90% silver but retain the reeded edge.
Mint Marks
The mint mark sits on the obverse, to the right of Washington's ponytail above the date. "P" is Philadelphia, "D" is Denver, and "S" appears on proof coins from San Francisco.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
The Kamehameha statue and island chain are unique to this issue, so there is no risk of confusing it with another state design. Collectors should simply confirm the Hawaiian-language motto text is crisp and correctly rendered, since it is the most detail-dense lettering in the entire State Quarters series and a useful gauge of strike quality.
Grading at a Glance
Check Washington's cheek and hair curls on the obverse for wear. On the reverse, examine the statue's extended arm, cape folds, and the small Hawaiian-language lettering; because this text is fine and shallow, it is one of the first areas to show softness from wear or a weak strike.
Authenticity Red Flags
Common clad Hawaii quarters are inexpensive and not typically counterfeited. Be cautious of coins claimed to be silver without proof-set documentation, coins with blurred or illegible Hawaiian motto lettering (often a sign of a worn die, poor strike, or a cast copy), or an edge that lacks the expected reeding and copper-colored core.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Hawaii the last state quarter released?
The 50 State Quarters program released coins in the order each state joined the Union, and Hawaii, admitted in 1959, was the 50th and most recent state, making its quarter the final one in the series.
Who is depicted on the reverse?
King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands under a single kingdom in the early 19th century.
What does the Hawaiian phrase on the coin mean?
"UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO" is Hawaii's official state motto, generally translated as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
Where do I find the mint mark?
On the obverse, just right of Washington's ponytail, directly above the date.