Kanaka (Pacific Island worker)

Kanakas were workers (a mix of voluntary and involuntary) from various Pacific Islands employed in British colonies, such as British Columbia (Canada), Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Queensland (Australia) in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They also worked in California (United States) and Chile (see also Easter Island and the Rapa Nui).

Kanaka originally referred only to Native Hawaiians, from their own name for themselves, kānaka ʻōiwi or kānaka maoli. Kanaka means 'man' in the Hawaiian language, and kānaka is its plural meaning 'men'. In the Americas in particular, native Hawaiians were the majority; but Kanakas in Australia were almost entirely Melanesian. In Australian English kanaka is now avoided outside of its historical context, as it has been used as an offensive term.

Australia

According to the Macquarie Dictionary, the word kanaka, which was once widely used in Australia, is now regarded in Australian English as an offensive term for a Pacific Islander. Most Kanakas in Australia were people from Melanesia, rather than Polynesia. The descendants of 19th century immigrants to Australia from the Pacific Islands now generally refer to themselves as "South Sea Islanders", and this is also the term used in formal and official situations.

Most of the original labourers were recruited or blackbirded (kidnapped or deceived) from the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and New Caledonia, with others from the Loyalty Islands.