Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole

May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997

 

"Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono"
"The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
(King Kamehameha III, 1843)

 

Photo Right: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole in 1993. Source: Wikipedia.

 

Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, last name lit. 'the fearless eye, the bold face', also called “Bruddah Iz” or “Iz,” was a Hawaiian singer-songwriter, musician, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist whose aim was to make music that stayed true to the typical sound of traditional Hawaiian music.

He began playing music with his older brother Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole III ("Skippy") and cousin Allen Thornton at the age of 11, and in 1976, Iz was a co-founder of one of the break-out groups of the "Hawaiian Renaissance", the Mākaha Sons of Niʻihau whose members also included "Skippy," Louis Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. The group made 15 albums including their first, "No Kristo" in 1976, their breakout albums "Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha" (1984) and its follow-up, "Hoʻola" (1986). Kamakawiwoʻole's last recorded album with the group was 1991's "Hoʻoluana." It remains the group's top-selling CD, which is still active in Hawaiian music. The Mākaha Sons.
In 1990, he released his first solo album "Ka ʻAnoʻi," which won awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). "Facing Future" was released in 1993 by The Mountain Apple Company; it would become the best-selling album of all time by a Hawaiian artist, achieving platinum status in 2005. It featured a version of his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World." Also in 1993, Iz left The Mākaha Sons.

He would release two other albums in his lifetime: "E Ala E" (1995) and "N Dis Life" (1996).

In 1994, Kamakawiwoʻole was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). In 1997, Kamakawiwoʻole was again honored by HARA at the Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Male Vocalist of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Island Contemporary Album of the Year. He watched the awards ceremony from a hospital room.

Iz died at the age of 38 in Queen's Medical Center at 12:18 am on June 26, 1997, from respiratory failure. On July 10, 1997, the Hawaiian flag flew at half-staff for Kamakawiwoʻole's funeral. His koa wood casket lay at the state capitol building in Honolulu, making him the third person (and the only non-government official) to be so honored. Approximately 10,000 people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach on July 12, 1997.

After his death, a compilation album "Alone in Iz World" was released; it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's World Chart.

On September 20, 2003, a bronze bust commemorating Kamakawiwoʻole was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on Oʻahu.

Bronze Bust of Iz

 

On May 20, 2020, Google Doodle published a web page in celebration of Kamakawiwoʻole's 61st birthday. It featured information about his life, musical career, and impact on Hawaii.

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Google Doodle

Included was a two-minute cartoon video with Kamakawiwoʻole's cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" playing as the background and imagery of Hawaii.

 

In 2022, "Iz" would have celebrated his 63rd birthday.

A few resources

YouTube Links to a few songs

Links to songbooks on this website that have some IZ songs

Links to a few performances and documentaries

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