Hawaiian Alphabet Chart | Palapala Hawaiʻi

Understanding Hawaiian Letters

Hawaiian uses a Latin-based alphabet with a small number of letters, which is one reason the writing system feels approachable. Even with a small set, the alphabet is expressive because vowel length and glottal stops matter in real words.

Two marks are especially important: the ʻokina (ʻ), which represents a glottal stop, and the kahakō (a macron) used to mark long vowels. These are not decoration. They change meaning and pronunciation in many words.

The chart above helps you learn the letter shapes and the key marks clearly, so you can read Hawaiian text more accurately and confidently.

Reading Hawaiian Spelling Patterns

Hawaiian spelling is often straightforward once you respect the ʻokina and long vowels. Train your eye to notice these marks early, because skipping them is one of the most common beginner mistakes.

Practice reading vowels carefully. In Hawaiian, vowels do a lot of work, and reading improves quickly when you keep your vowel shapes consistent.

Start with short syllable strings and simple word patterns. Hawaiian becomes comfortable when you read smoothly through the vowel rhythm instead of pausing on every letter.

How to Write Hawaiian Letters Properly

Hawaiian is written left to right and uses uppercase and lowercase like English. Your main handwriting focus should be the ʻokina and the macron (kahakō). Write them clearly so your words stay unambiguous.

Do not replace the ʻokina with an apostrophe in handwriting. The shape and placement matter for clean writing and for reading your notes later.

Practice writing short syllables and short words that include long vowels. Repetition builds the habit of marking vowel length consistently.

Use the worksheet for structured practice. Write a small set today, then rewrite it tomorrow from memory to build durable confidence.

Learning Tips for Hawaiian Alphabet

Learn the ʻokina and long vowels early. These two features carry a lot of meaning and are the fastest way to improve reading accuracy.

Keep practice short and daily. Ten minutes per day of reading and writing is enough to build strong recognition.

When you miss a mark, slow down and correct it immediately. Training accuracy early prevents bad habits later.

Practice Hawaiian With Downloads

Use the PDF for printing, the image for quick reference, and the worksheet for writing drills. A clean chart nearby makes it easier to check ʻokina placement and vowel length marks.

Pick a small set of letters and marks today, practice them well, and expand gradually. Hawaiian improves quickly when the key marks become automatic.