Kanaka is a slur used to describe Hawaiians in a derogatory way. A Hawaiian word meaning simply "person." Whites and Asians began to use it in a disparaging way and for most of the 19th and 20th century it was equivalent to "nigger." In recent times, Hawaiians have made great efforts to "reclaim" the word from its ne
The word Kanaka is a racial slur that has been used historically to degrade and dehumanize hawaiians. The word is still used by some people for this purpose, and it is seen as offensive and hurtful to hawaiians. If you are unsure about whether or not it is appropriate to use the word Kanaka, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid using it in any situation.