NS_ENUM_STRING ports a struct with static strings. This means between objc and swift you have to learn how to read both versions of it which can be confusing. It is much better to have a more consistent api between both. Therefore you can use a class.

enumstring_as_class.swift

func ==(lhs: EnumString, rhs: String) -> Bool {
	return lhs.isEqual(rhs)
}

func ==(lhs: String, rhs: EnumString) -> Bool {
	return rhs.isEqual(lhs)
}

class EnumString: NSObject {
	let rawValue: String
	
	init(rawValue: String) {
		self.rawValue = rawValue
	}
	//override var hashValue: Int { return rawValue.hashValue }
	
	override func isEqual(_ object: Any?) -> Bool {
		if let rhs = object as? EnumString {
			return self.rawValue == rhs.rawValue
		} else if let raw_rhs = object as? String {
			return self.rawValue == raw_rhs
		} else {
			return false
		}
	}
	
	static let America = EnumString(rawValue: "America")
	static let Canada = EnumString(rawValue: "Canada")
}

EnumString.America.rawValue

EnumString.America == EnumString.America
EnumString.America == EnumString(rawValue: "America")
EnumString.America.isEqual(EnumString(rawValue: "America"))
EnumString.America.isEqual("America")
EnumString.America == "America"
"America" == EnumString.America