Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 March 1988 — Coins Make Unique Keepsakes [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Coins Make Unique Keepsakes

Three specially minted commemorative coins are still available for purchase as unique keepsakes of the Centennial celebration of Kamehameha Schools, founded i_n 1887. Created by the Royal Hawaiian Mint, in conjunction with Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, eaeh eoin comes in its own case, with a fascinating capsule history of its illustrious namesake. The idea to mint commemorative coins was first suggested by Bishop Estate Trustee Richard Lyman Jr. The coins..honor Kamehameha I, Berniee Pauahi Bishop and Charles Reed Bishop. All three coins may be purchased by mail order via the Kamehameha Schools Bookstore. Call 842-8367 and ask for the "Centennial Commemorative Coin" mail order form. Payment must accompany order. Cost per medal is: Bronze ($15), Silver ($39), Gold (eall for quote). Minted gold pendants are also available in two settings, priced at $110 and $200. According to the capsule histories, "The first eoin bears the likeness of Kamehameha I after a watercolor painted from life by the French artist Louis Choris on November 24, 1816. The word 'Imua on the eoin means 'forward,' a battle cry used by Kamehameha I and the encouraging uplifting motto of Kamehameha Schools. "On the obverse side of the eoin are Kamehameha's last words, shared with his closest chiefs just before his death on May 8, 1819. 'E 'oni wale no 'oukou i ku'u pono. . .' whieh has been translated 'Endless is the good that I have given you to enjoy.' There- also appears a map of the eight major Hawaiian islands and the words 'Unification' and 'Ka Na'i Aupuni,' or 'Conqueror of the Kingdom'." The image of the founder of Kamehameha Schools, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, appears on the second eoin. "The great-granddaughter and last direct descendant of Kamehameha, she left her entire estate, whieh consisted largely of the lands of the Kamehamehas, to found and maintain Kamehameha Schools. "On the reverse side of the eoin is a replica of the original Bishop Memorial Chapel, built in 1897 as a gift to the Schools from Mr. Bishop in honor of his wife. Phrases from Pauahi's.will appear behind the ehapel, and above is the tribute 'Inspiration,' whieh expresses in a single word Pauahi's legacy to her people.

"The third and last in the series honors Charles Reed Bishop, husband of Kamehameha's founder. The eoin bears the likeness of Mr. Bishop from a photograph taken during his mature years. Bishop Hall, shown on the obverse side of the eoin, was the sturdy stone office and classroom building constructed by Bishop in 1891."

Dr. Donald Kilolani Mitchell, Hawaiian Resource Specialist with the Hawaiian Studies Program at Kamehameha Schools, shows off the newly-minted Charles Reed Bishop eoin.