n. a native of the South Sea Islands, especially a Hawaiian in the service of the Hudson's Bay Co. on the Pacific Coast, most of whom settled in British Columbia.
1833  (1963)  Our crew consisted of four Kanakas, stout fellows, who paddled lustily. . . .
1843  (1948)  . . . and that [was] again corroborated by the deceased calling out to the Kanackas to fire on the Canadians. . . .
1958  The Islands have been a haven to . . . naval deserters, Kanakas, remittance men . . . and everyday fishermen.