English also borrows some Hawaiian words (e.g. ukulele, mahimahi, and muʻumuʻu).
The ʻokina represents a glottal stop, which indicates a short pause to separate syllables.
For example, the muʻumuʻu, traditionally a Hawaiian dress, is pronounced /ˈmuːmuː/ MOO-moo by many mainland (colloquial term for the Continental U.S.) residents.
However, many Hawaii residents have learned that the ʻokina in Hawaiian signifies a glottal stop.
Thus, in the Hawaiian language, muʻumuʻu is pronounced [ˈmuʔuˈmuʔu], approximately MOO-oo-MOO-oo.