What does the accent mean in Hawaiian language?

The kahakō (macron) is a diacritical mark used in the Hawaiian language to indicate a long vowel. It is written as a horizontal line over the vowel to be lengthened. For example, the word "hānau" (to give birth) is pronounced with a long "ā" sound, while the word "hana" (work) is pronounced with a short "a" sound.

The kahakō is also used to distinguish between words that are otherwise spelled the same. For example, the word "pō" (night) is pronounced with a long "ō" sound, while the word "po" (ball) is pronounced with a short "o" sound.

The kahakō is an important part of the Hawaiian language, and its use can help to ensure that words are pronounced correctly.