Where does “kani” come from?
kani (Hawaiian) comes from Proto-Polynesian taŋi, from Proto-Oceanic taŋis, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian taŋis, from Proto-Austronesian Caŋis — to cry.
kani (Hawaiian): sound
Ancestry of “kani”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Polynesian | taŋi | — |
| 2 | Proto-Oceanic | taŋis | — |
| 3 | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian | taŋis | to cry |
| 4 | Proto-Austronesian | Caŋis | to cry |