The U.S. Mint has released its new quarter honoring Hawaiian composer, chanter, kumu hula and community leader Edith Kanakaʻole.

What You Need To Know

  • The coin is part of the four-year American Women Quarters series; in all, 20 quarters celebrating notable women in American history will be released

  • Also featured on American Women Quarters this year are aviator Bessie Coleman; journalist Jovita Idar; former U.S. first lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt; and ballerina Maria Tallchief

  • The coins enter circulation at banks around the country this week

  • The Kanakaʻole quarter was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Renata Gordon and depicts Kanakaʻole with her hair and lei po`o morphing into elements of the Hawaiian landscape, a nod to her work in preserving traditional Hawaiian culture and the natural environment

The coin is part of the four-year American Women Quarters series. 

Also featured on American Women Quarters this year are aviator Bessie Coleman; journalist Jovita Idar; former U.S. first lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt; and ballerina Maria Tallchief.

The coins enter circulation at banks around the country this week. They can also be purchased directly from the Mint in rolls and 100-coin bags.

The Kanakaʻole quarter was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Renata Gordon and depicts Kanakaʻole with her hair and lei po'o morphing into elements of the Hawaiian landscape, a nod to her work in preserving traditional Hawaiian culture and the natural environment.

The quarter is inscribed with “E ho mai ka ike,” or “grant us knowledge.”

In messages shared Monday on their official social media accounts, U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono acknowledged Kanakaʻole’s impact and the significance of her appearance on a U.S. quarter.

“A deeply respected and beloved kumu hula, composer, and community leader, Edith Kanakaʻole played a critical role in the preservation and celebration of Native Hawaiian culture,” Schatz wrote. “Her legacy lives on through her work and the lives she impacted, and this new quarter from the U.S. Mint will help share her story with people across the country.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email him at michael.tsai@charter.com