In 1820, Protestant missionaries in Hawaii developed an alphabet for ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi to facilitate literacy and religious conversion. This initiative integrated English influences while aiming to preserve the Hawaiian language under colonial pressures. The creation of this alphabet played a crucial role in promoting literacy among Hawaiians and contributed to the cultural preservation efforts amidst the challenges of colonization.

The development of the missionary alphabet in Hawaii in 1820 sparked a literary renaissance, enabling the creation of Hawaiian-language newspapers and poetry. This preservation of mele and moʻolelo allowed for the adaptation of traditional forms to contemporary contexts.