World Battlefronts: Safe at Last

In 1942’s skin-of-the-teeth days, when a Japanese invasion of Hawaii was more than a possibility, U.S. authorities declared that ordinary U.S. greenbacks were no longer legal currency. Greenbacks overprinted with the word “Hawaii” were substituted. Reason: if Hawaii were captured the monetary loot would consist of nothing more than “invasion money” which could not be used in international exchange.

Last week Hawaii’s Governor Ingram M. Stainback announced that the overprint money would be discontinued as fast as it is used up, that regular U.S. currency was again legal. Admiral Nimitz, as commander of the Pacific Ocean areas (Kwajalein, Saipan, Peleliu, etc.), where the “Hawaii” greenbacks have also been used, concurred.