PACIFIC ISLANDERS & KANAKAS MIGRATION

Where in the world?

Zones… The Pacific Islands are zoned into 3 sections: Melanesia – New Guinea, New Caledonia, Zenadh Zes (Torres Strait Islands), Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands Micronesia – Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kirribati, Nauru and Federated States of Micronesia Polynesia – New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna, Tokelau, Niue, French Polynesia and Easter island

Who are the ‘Kanakas’? The Polynesian word ‘Kanaka’, meaning ‘man or more so boy’, originally referred only to native Hawaiians. The term ‘Kanaka’ was seen to be derogatory (offensive). The descendants of these 19 th Century labourers sent to Australia from the Pacific Islands refer to themselves as South Sea Islanders.

What happened… Between 1863 and 1891, a total of 46,387 South Pacific Islanders were brought to work in Queensland where the sugar industry was undergoing a massive expansion. The islanders were 'contracted' for a period of three years. For working ten hours a day they were paid the wage of 6 pounds (equivalent to $9.18 per year); equal to 4 pence (equivalent to 9c) per day. Some were paid nothing at all.