There are only thirteen letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, five vowels, and eight consonants, one of which is the okina, symbolized by ‘, which actually is a pause in speech, a “no sound” which causes a halt in the language and gives it the characteristic Hawaiian sound.

The letters are:

a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w and the okina.

It’s a beautiful language, so simple, and so melodic. It seems like it’s made for songs.

Here is one of my favorite Hawaiian songs: E ku’u morning dew – by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole: