Quarter finalists

Budding coin designers
put in their two-bits. Now, what
do you think?

By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

Nearly 600 Star-Bulletin readers added their two-bits' worth of input into the Hawaii design for the United States quarter. The competition was fierce, and some big-time professional designers didn't make the cut, while some grade-schoolers did.

So, there is some justice in the world, after all.

Starting in 1999, the U.S. mint is supposed to start cranking out decorative 25-cent pieces. The front will remain the same, while the back will highlight the states of the union, five a year in the order they joined the union, until we get to Hawaii in 2009.

Ironically, Hawaii is the 50th state, and 2009 will mark the 50th anniversary of Hawaiian statehood if we haven't become a sovereign nation or a Bishop Estate fiefdom by then.

At any rate, we asked for designs for the Hawaii side of the quarter, and 25 finalists were chosen.

Flowers were a big favorite. So were endangered species like Monk seals and pu'eo. Maps of the islands were contenders. One of the finalists bears a strong resemblance to the Aloha Week logo, but it would still make a nice-looking coin.

Many designs featured Hawaiian royalty; curiously, none pictured Lili'uokalani, who had her own problems with American money interests.

The finalists were selected for historical and cultural suitability, graphic interest and potential for engraving. The slickness of the original drawing wasn't a factor, obviously. Entrants ranged from 11 to 72.

Each finalist receives a roll of quarters. Now it's up to you, the rest of you, to select the best. For details -- and for the names of these designers -- see Page D-5. We'll announce the winner Oct. 14.

The winner in that round will win 25 rolls of quarters. His or her work will be professionally rendered by the Star-Bulletin's artists, and the design will be submitted to the governor's office.

The winning designers

Here are the finalists in the Two-Bit contest, numbered according to their designs on Page D-1:

1. Rico Leffanta, 57, Waikiki
2. Larry N. Hayashi, 53, Kaimuki
3. Ian Perry, 12, Punahou
4. Kaleo Lee, 14, Alakea
5. Aaron Silva, 26, Puunui
6. Bryan Santos, 14, Kalihi
7. Owen K. Furuta, 21, Kaimuki
8. Gordon S. Chang, 71, Kaimuki
9. Joslyn Chaves, 21, Waimanalo
10. Christine Izuo, 15, Kailua
11. Robert Anderson, 52, Aiea
12. Marvelee Tahauri, 48, Hauula
13. Melissa DeSica, 15, Kailua
14. Edwin S. Roseberry, 72, Koko Head
15. Glen Rubio, 20, Pearl City
16. Ben Sayaseng, 16, Alakea
17. Leeanne Mathews, 13, Alakea
18. Calvin Lac, 11, Puuloa
19. Dawn Kang, 14, Mililani
20. Tadao Tanaka, 42, Kaneohe
21. Joseph B. Chung, 64, Kaneohe
22. George Gabriel, 14, Kalihi
23. Jose T. Magno, 15, Waipahu
24. Matthew Kawika Oriz, 14, Laie
25. Suzanne R.Y. Lee, 26, Moanalua