"Tu lai-e" in "Johnny Kanaka" may have come from the Hawaiian Puu lae, a headland or projection. No 't' in Hawaiian. If la'e is used, Puu la'e is a shining projection or headland.

(or John Kanaka-naka tu lai-e may refer to a 'projection' of John's)

Probability that I am right- one out of a hundred, but it's an interesting thought.
Western Canada has descendants of Hawaiians who worked for the trading companies as voyageurs, sailors, builders, farmers, miners and whalers. A recent book names and describes the work done by some of them. Many returned to Hawai'i, but others stayed.