Hawaiian AlphabetEdit
The Hawaiian alphabet is the Latin-based system used to write the native Hawaiian language. Born of 19th-century missionary work and later refined in schools and print, it enabled literacy, Bible translation, and the recording of history in a written form. Today it remains a touchstone of language renewal and cultural continuity in Hawaiʻi, while also functioning in everyday life—from street signage to digital communication. The alphabet blends traditional Hawaiian sounds with a pragmatic approach to a global writing standard, a balance that has shaped education, politics, and culture in the islands for generations. See also Hawaiian language and Unicode for the technical framework that supports its modern use.
Historically, pre-contact Hawaiians did not use a writing system in the way European traditions did; knowledge was transmitted orally. The arrival of missionaries in the early 19th century introduced a practical orthography based on the Latin script, adapted to represent Hawaiian sounds. Over time, scholars and educators standardized the letters and diacritical marks so that learners could read prayers, newspapers, and government documents. The development of a written language helped swell literacy rates, contributed to the creation of Hawaiian literature and dictionaries, and facilitated the broader project of language preservation. See also Lorrin Andrews and Aha Pūnana Leo for figures and institutions associated with the standardization and revival efforts.
The Alphabet
The modern Hawaiian alphabet comprises 13 symbols, typically taught as a 13-letter set that includes the five vowels, seven consonants, and the glottal stop. The core letters are a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w, and the glottal stop represented by the symbol ʻ (the okina). The glottal stop is not a vowel nor a consonant in the same sense as English letters, but it is essential to accurate pronunciation and meaning in Hawaiian words. In print, the glottal stop is sometimes referred to by the name of the symbol, the okina; it functions as an audible break in the flow of speech. See also ʻokina.
Long vowels in Hawaiian are marked with a macron, commonly called kahakō in Hawaiian practice, though in many fonts this diacritic is used to indicate vowel length. The macron is not a separate letter but a diacritic that can appear above vowels to distinguish meaning in minimal pairs. In practice, modern typesetting and digital encodings (as part of Unicode) accommodate both the okina and the kahakō, ensuring that Hawaiian orthography can be rendered across print and screen. See also macron (diacritic) and Unicode.
Examples of the alphabet in use include place names, personal names, and everyday terms that reflect the island environment and history, such as words for sea, land, and family. The alphabet serves as the basis for formal education, literacy campaigns, and the recording of traditional knowledge in written form, while still allowing for the flexibility needed in a global communications landscape. See also Hawaiian language.
Usage and Education
In the modern era, the Hawaiian alphabet supports a bilingual and bicultural educational framework. In addition to English, Hawaiian language instruction has been advanced through immersion programs and language revival initiatives. One prominent example is the network of early childhood and school programs that use Hawaiian as the primary language of instruction for portions of the day, reinforcing literacy in the Hawaiian language while graduates navigate English-speaking higher education and the broader economy. See also Aha Pūnana Leo.
Public signage, literature, media, and online content increasingly reflect the orthography, with schools and government agencies adopting Hawaiian names and terminology in a way that respects local heritage without displacing the broader English-language framework that serves commerce and governance. Proponents argue that a strong base in Hawaiian literacy supports cultural continuity, tourism with authenticity, and local pride; critics often frame language programs in terms of resource allocation and educational outcomes, arguing for a pragmatic emphasis on English literacy to maximize economic opportunity. See also Hawaiian language and Education in Hawaii.
Controversies and debates around the Hawaiian alphabet and its role in society tend to center on questions of language policy, cultural revival, and education funding. Supporters of robust Hawaiian language programs emphasize that bilingual competence enhances cognitive development, historical awareness, and civic participation in a multicultural state. Critics—sometimes aligned with broader debates about government budget priorities and educational standards—argue that the costs of large-scale immersion programs and specialized orthography can be high, and that English literacy should remain the primary driver of student success. From a practical standpoint, advocates point to measurable benefits in literacy and cultural retention, while opponents push for measured, outcome-based approaches and broader parental choice. In this debate, critics often characterize contemporary critiques of language revival as overblown, while supporters reply that maintaining language heritage is compatible with economic vitality and national integration. See also Language revival and Education in Hawaii.
Digital and scholarly work on the Hawaiian alphabet has expanded access to resources and improved consistency in teaching, publishing, and public communication. The evolution from early missionary-authored texts to modern digital fonts and Unicode support illustrates how a compact writing system can scale from religious devotional material to official government documents, tourism materials, and academic research. See also Hawaiian language and Unicode.