Following the crippling attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1942) and fearing an invasion, the United States for the first time ever "isolated" the currency. Within several months " HAWAII " overprinted 1935A series One Dollar Silver Certificates were introduced, including special brown seals instead of the traditional blue. Similarly overprinted 1934 and 1934A San Francisco "L" series Five Dollar, Ten Dollar and Twenty Dollar Federal Reserve Notes were also introduced shortly after. No other currency could circulate. In the event that these notes would fall into enemy hands, these obvious stand-outs would prevent their being used. These notes represent an integral part of American paper money history.

Hawaii, consists of eight main islands and numerous smaller islands, was a kingdom until 1893 when Queen Liliuokalani, the gifted composer of "Aloha Oe" and other songs, was deposed and a provisional government established. This was followed by a republic which governed Hawaii until 1898 when it ceded itself to the United States. Hawaii was organized as a territory in 1900 and became the 50th state of the United States in 1959. For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on United States.