Kanaka

Kanaka is a term with multiple, historically connected meanings. In the Hawaiian language, kanaka means “man” or “person.” The phrase kanaka maoli is commonly used to refer to Native Hawaiians, with maoli meaning “native” or “true.” In English-language usage, the word has appeared in various historical contexts and can carry different connotations depending on context and era.

Historically, kanaka also described Pacific Islanders more broadly, especially in the context of labor migration during the 19th century. Pacific Islanders, including Hawaiians, were recruited to work on sugar plantations and other enterprises in the Caribbean, parts of South America (notably Peru), and the Pacific region. This large-scale movement is often associated with coercive or misleading recruitment practices that are collectively referred to as Pacific Islander labor migration or, in some cases, “blackbirding.” The term kanaka in these contexts is primarily found in colonial-era records and accounts.

In modern usage, kanaka remains a foundational term in Hawaiian language and culture for referring to people from Hawaii, though usage outside of cultural or linguistic contexts is less common and can be sensitive. today, kanaka maoli is the standard term for Native Hawaiians, and kanaka is usually encountered in historical texts, academic discussions, or when describing the broader Pacific Islander diaspora of the 19th century.

See also: Hawaiian language; Native Hawaiian identity; Pacific Islander labor migration.