Mintage:
Circulation strikes: 0
Proofs: at least 20

Designer: Charles E. Barber

Diameter: ± millimeters

Metal content:
Silver - 90%
Copper - 10%

Weight: ± grains (± grams)

Edge: Reeded

Mintmark: None (for Philadelphia, PA)

Images courtesy of Superior Galleries

Recent offerings:
NGC Proof-63 (illustrated above).  Ex - Superior Galleries "ANA 2001 Nation Money Show" Auction, March 8-9, 2001, Lot 547, where it was described as follows: " for $18,000 "to the book"

Notes:
In their request to have coins struck by the United States government, the Hawaii included four denominations: a 1/8th Dollar (Hapawalu), a 1/4 Dollar (Hapaha), a 1/2 Dollar (Hapalua), and a Dollar (Akahi Dala).  All of the denominations, except the 1/8th Dollar, conformed to American coins in size, weight and value.  Because the Hapawalu would have required specially made blanks, a Dime denomination (Umi Keneta) was substituted for the Hapawalu.  No Hapawalus were struck for circulation, but when 20 special presentation Proof sets were made at the Philadelphia (PA) Mint in 1884, Hapawalus were included along with the other four denominations.

The Philadelphia Mint produced 18 Hapawalus in copper from the Proof dies and included them in four-piece sets (12-1/2c, 25c, 50c, and $1).  These have been called "patterns", but were they struck before or after the silver Proofs?

Experts consider the 1883 Hapawalu "patterns" with italic 8's in the date to be fabrications made outside the Mint (as were similar 1884 "patterns" of the Hapaha, Hapalua, and Dala denominations).  These were not known until 1954, when the collection of deposed King Farouk of Egypt was sold.  Farouk owned many "patterns" from other countries that were made specifically for him, so it is highly likely that the 1883 and 1884 "patterns" with italic 8's in the date were made for him at the time he collected.  

One Hapalua with italic 8's in the date is known struck over an 1880 Quarter Dollar.

The reverse legend "UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO" means "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

Sources and/or recommended reading:
"Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia Of U.S. And Colonial Coins" by Walter Breen

"Hawaiian Money Standard Catalog, Second Edition" by Donald Medcalf and Ronald Russell