Where does “kanaka” come from?

kanaka (Hawaiian) comes from Proto-Polynesian taŋata, from Proto-Oceanic *tamʷata — human being, person.

kanaka (Hawaiian): human being; subject, retainer; a Hawaiian

Definitions

  1. human being; subject, retainer; a Hawaiian

Ancestry of “kanaka”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesiantaŋataman, person
2Proto-Oceanic*tamʷatahuman being, person

Words derived from “kanaka”

Every word from Proto-Oceanic *tamʷata →Every word from Proto-Polynesian taŋata →