ʻokina

The ʻokina is a special Hawaiian letter that looks like a raised apostrophe (ʻ) and represents a glottal stop—similar to the brief pause or catch in the throat heard in some speech sounds. It signals a break or separation between vowels in Hawaiian words, changing their meaning. For example, ʻAloha (hello/love) and Aloha (without the ʻokina) differ in pronunciation and meaning. Proper use of the ʻokina is important for accurate spelling, pronunciation, and respecting Hawaiian language conventions. It is a recognized part of the written language and helps preserve the language's correct sound and rhythm.