Windows - How to Install Hawaiian Diacritics for Microsoft Word

Summary

This article explains how to install Hawaiian diacritics support for Microsoft Word using a Normal.dotm template file.

Body

Overview

This article provides instructions for you to install the Normal.dotm template file for Hawaiian diacritics support.

How to Install the Normal.dotm Template File

The Normal.dotm file is a Microsoft Word template file that saves your personal settings. Settings like margins, default font and other personalized settings are kept in this file. Macros are kept in this file as well. The Normal.dotm file provided for Hawaiian diacritics support contains macros which:

  1. Assign keystrokes to diacritical marks
  2. Input commonly used Hawaiian words into the Autocorrect dictionary

NOTE: You will need to reset any personalized settings you have already saved when replacing your current Normal.dotm file with the one provided by ITS. Make a backup copy of your current Normal.dotm file just in case you need to revert back to the old file:

  1. Enable the Hidden items option
    1. Go to File Explorer
    2. Click on the View and select Show
    3. Make sure Hidden items is checked
  2. Download the Normal.dotm file from https://hawaii.edu/itsdocs/1329/Normal.dotm
  3. Save or copy the file into the C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates directory
    1. (Optional) You can backup the old Normal.dotm file by renaming the existing file to Normal-old.dotm
  4. Launch Microsoft Word and open a new blank document
  5. In Microsoft Word, click on View in the toolbar, then choose Macros then View Macros option
  6. Look for the macro called diacritics and double-click on it to run it

Back to Top

Using Macros in Microsoft Word for Windows

The macro will list all the Hawaiian words that were added to the Autocorrect dictionary as well as list the keystroke shortcuts it has created. You may save the document for future reference.

The template creates the following shortcut keys for each mark:

Character Description Shortcut
 ʻ  okina Ctrl-Shift-y
ā small "a" with kahakō Ctrl-Shift-a
ē small "e" with kahakō Ctrl-Shift-e
ī small "i" with kahakō Ctrl-Shift-i
ō small "o" with kahakō Ctrl-Shift-o
ū small "u" with kahakō Ctrl-Shift-u
Ā capital "a" with kahakō Alt-Ctrl-Shift-a
Ē capital "e" with kahakō Alt-Ctrl-Shift-e
Ī capital "i" with kahakō Alt-Ctrl-Shift-i
O capital "o" with kahakō Alt-Ctrl-Shift-o
Ū capital "u" with kahakō Alt-Ctrl-Shift-u

To use the shortcut keys, e.g., to type Mānoa with the correct diacritical marks:

  1. Type the M
  2. Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys and press the letter a
  3. Type noa

Back to Top

Adding New Words to the Autocorrect List

  1. Open a new document
  2. Type out the new Hawaiian word with the proper diacritical marks in the document
  3. Highlight the word and press Ctrl + c on your keyboard to copy the word into the clipboard
  4. Click File > Options > Proofing
  5. Choose Autocorrect Options
  6. In the Replace box type the Hawaiian word without the proper diacritics
  7. The With box should contain the proper spelling. If it does not, click once in the With box and press Ctrl + v on your keyboard to paste the correct spelling into the box
  8. Click on OK to finish

Back to Top

Details

Details

Article ID: 20190
Created
Wed 12/3/25 8:55 PM
Modified
Fri 12/12/25 2:46 PM

Related Articles

Related Articles (1)

This articles guides you through enabling and using the Hawaiian keyboard on your Windows device.