Learn the Hawaiian Alphabet—And Why It’s So Unique
The Hawaiian alphabet is short and sweet with only 13 letters! That’s what makes it so easy and fun for kids to learn. But even with so few letters, this language has a beautiful rhythm and sound that stands out.
The 13 Letters of Hawaiian
Hawaiian has just five vowels and eight consonants. Every letter is important, and they’re all pronounced clearly. Here’s the full list:
- Vowels: A, E, I, O, U
- Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W, and the ʻokina (glottal stop)
All words end in a vowel, and there are no consonant clusters. This keeps the language flowing and easy to pronounce.
Why It Sounds So Musical
With all words ending in vowels and no silent letters, Hawaiian sounds like singing. It has a rhythm that children find easy to repeat and remember. Words like aloha, moana, and ʻohana are soft and full of feeling.
Fun Alphabet Learning Activities
Alphabet Island Game
Draw an island and place one letter of the Hawaiian alphabet on each part. As you say a word, kids hop or point to the letters that make it.
Sing the Hawaiian ABCs
Turn the 13 letters into a song! Kids can sing the alphabet and clap to the rhythm to help remember the sounds.
The Hawaiian program on Dinolingo is great for ages 2–14 and includes activities, games, and songs that help children learn the alphabet while having fun. The course teaches not only the letters but also how they sound in real words, with clear examples from native speakers.
Available on iOS, Android, and web, Dinolingo also provides printable worksheets and flashcards for screen-free learning.
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