The Hawaii quarter will say "Aloha" to the Nation when it is ceremonially launched at Bishop Square in downtown Honolulu at noon on November 10, 2008.  The Hawaii commemorative quarter-dollar will be the final coin produced in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program, the most successful coin program in U.S. history.  An estimated 147 million people collect the quarters in this popular series.

United States Mint Director Ed Moy will join Governor Linda Lingle in handing out shiny new Hawaii quarters to children under 18 who attend the launch.  This lunchtime event is free to the public and the media are invited.

After the ceremony, featuring a keiki (children's) hula performance and Hawaiian music, the public may exchange bills for $10 rolls of Hawaii quarters at the event.  Banks across Hawaii will also have the new quarters available that afternoon.  The Hawaii quarter goes into circulation on November 3, 2008, but because the process of circulation often takes a couple weeks, most Americans will not see the Hawaii quarter in their change until mid-November.

NOTE:  On the eve of the launch, Sunday, November 9, 2008, the public and news media are also invited to a free Public Coin Forum from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kanaina Building on the Iolani Palace grounds to meet Director Moy, learn about new United States Mint coin programs and ask questions about the future of U.S. coinage.

In 2009, the United States Mint will embark on the District of Columbia and United States Territories Quarters Program by minting and issuing six newly designed quarters.

For a digital image of the Hawaii quarter, go to http://www.usmint.gov/downloads/pressroom/2008HawaiiUnc.jpg

WHAT:        Hawaii Quarter Launch & Coin Exchange
                    United States Mint Public Coin Forum

WHO:          United States Mint Director Ed Moy
                    Governor Linda Lingle

WHEN:      Launch:     Nov. 10, 2008, noon (Hawaii time);
                                     Quarter Exchange to follow
 
Public Coin Forum:    Nov.  9, 2008, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
                                     (Hawaii time)

WHERE:    Launch:     Bishop Square, Honolulu

Public Coin Forum:    Kanaina Building, Iolani Palace Grounds,
                                      364 S. King Street, Honolulu

TWO SATELLITE FEEDS (FOR TV NETWORKS AND STATIONS ONLY)
A satellite feed that includes Hawaii Quarter launch footage, sound bites of participants and production B-roll will be available on: Monday, November 10th, from 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. ET, at C Band Analog, AMC 11, Tr. 6 DL 3820H; and Tuesday, November 11th, from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET, at GA 28C, Tr. 19 DL 4080V.