kanaka

[ kuh-nak-uh, -nah-kuh, kan-uh-kuh ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a Native Hawaiian.
2. a South Sea islander.

Kanaka

/ kəˈnækə; ˈkænəkə /

noun

1. (esp in Hawaii) a native Hawaiian
2. often not capital any native of the South Pacific islands, esp (formerly) one abducted to work in Australia

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanaka¹

From Hawaiian: “person”

Word History and Origins

Origin of kanaka¹

C19: from Hawaiian: man, human being

Example Sentences

Kanaka elders have insisted that no more telescopes be built on Mauna Kea, which Native Hawaiians consider to be ancestral and sacred.

From Salon

“To suggest that Hawaiians avoid direct confrontation out of fear or some false notion of aloha is to ignore the whole set of operative values that Hawaiians respected, such as aggressiveness, courage, dignity, honor, competitiveness, and rivalry,” Kanahele wrote in “Ku Kanaka — Stand Tall: A Search For Hawaiian Values.”

From Los Angeles Times

The kanaka of Hawaii, the Native Hawaiians who inhabit the islands, value ’ohana, which extends beyond the familial ties of blood.

From Seattle Times

“Her U.S. mint recognition, that was one of the hugest, I mean, literally one of the hugest achievements of any Hawaiian, period,” Ms. Kanaka‘ole’s grandson Kuha‘o Zane said.

From New York Times

Native Hawaiian hula teacher Edith Kanaka'ole has been named as one of the selections for 2023.

From BBC