Kanak people
Kanak (French spelling until 1984: Canaque) are the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific. According to the 2014 census, they make up 39.1% of the total population with around 104,000 people.
Kanaka pigeon
The Kanaka pigeon ("Caloenas canacorum"), also called the great green pigeon or greater maned pigeon, is extinct. It was probably hunted to extinction by the early settlers of New Caledonia and Tonga around 2500 years ago. It was described from subfossil remains found at the Pindai Caves of New Caledonia. The specific epithet is a latinisation of "kanaka", the name of the native Melanesian people of New Caledonia. It was about 25% larger than its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon.