The title of the Hawaii State Quarter design is "King Kamehameha I." King Kamehameha I (the Great) of Hawaii is depicted with arm outstretched over the entire chain of major Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii State Motto is inscribed as "UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO" (which means "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.") The design for Hawaii Quarter was created and engraved by U.S. Mint Sculptor/Engraver Don Everhart.

I have to confess to being very surprised when I saw that "the king" actually appears on this quarter! There was some little controversy during the design vetting and approval stages where certain people objected to a sovereign king appearing on a U.S. coin (even if he had been dead for more than 185 years.) Apparently, reason won the day, and the people of Hawaii, like every other of the 50 States, got to have the design most desired by the authorities who had the final say on these things for each state. Although I'm thrilled to see the king have his day in the sun, I am a little baffled by the rendering into English of the Hawaii State Motto ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.") It seems that maybe something has been lost in translation...