Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (translation: "The Fearless Eyed Man") (May … Read Full Bio ↴Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (translation: "The Fearless Eyed Man") (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997), also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a Native Hawaiian singer-songwriter, musician, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist.

His voice became famous outside Hawaii when his album Facing Future was released in 1993. His medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" was released on his albums Ka ʻAnoʻi and Facing Future. It was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and television commercials. Along with his ukulele playing and incorporating other genres, such as jazz and reggae, Kamakawiwoʻole remains influential in Hawaiian music.

Kamakawiwoʻole was born at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu to Henry "Hank" Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole, Jr. and Evangeline "Angie" Leinani Kamakawiwoʻole. The notable Hawaiian musician Moe Keale was his uncle and a major musical influence. He was raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy and cousin Allen Thornton at the age of 11, being exposed to Hawaiian entertainers' music, such as Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where Kamakawiwoʻole's parents worked. Hawaiian musician Del Beazley spoke of the first time he heard Israel perform when playing for a graduation party. The whole room fell silent on hearing him sing. Israel continued his path as his brother Skippy entered the Army in 1971, and cousin Allen parted ways in 1976 for the mainland.

In his early teens, he studied at Upward Bound (UB) of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and his family moved to Mākaha. There he met Louis Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy they formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau. A part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, the band's blend of contemporary and traditional styles gained popularity as they toured Hawaii and the continental United States, releasing fifteen successful albums. Kamakawiwoʻole aimed to make music that stayed true to the typical sound of traditional Hawaiian music. During that time period, the songs that many people associated with Hawaii, typically, were not traditional-sounding songs.

The Makaha Sons of Niʻihau recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released four more albums, including Kahea O Keale, Keala, Makaha Sons of Niʻihau, and Mahalo Ke Akua. In 1982, Kamakawiwoʻole's brother, Skippy, died at age 28 of a heart attack[5] related to obesity. In that same year, Kamakawiwoʻole married his childhood sweetheart Marlene. Soon after, they had a daughter named Ceslieanne "Wehi" (born in c. 1983).

The group became Hawaii's most popular contemporary, traditional group with breakout albums 1984's Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha and its follow-up, 1986's Hoʻola. Kamakawiwoʻole's last recorded album with the group was 1991's Hoʻoluana. It remains the group's top-selling CD.

In 1990, Kamakawiwoʻole 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 featured a version of his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" (listed as "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World"), along with "Hawaiʻi 78", "White Sandy Beach of Hawaiʻi," "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man," and "Kaulana Kawaihae." The decision to include a cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was a last-minute decision by his producer Jon de Mello and Kamakawiwoʻole. Facing Future debuted at #25 on Billboard magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, Facing Future became Hawaiʻi's first certified platinum album, selling more than a million CDs in the United States, according to figures furnished by the Recording Industry Association of America. On July 21, 2006, BBC Radio 1 announced that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World (True Dreams)" would be released as a single in America.

In 1994, Kamakawiwoʻole was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA).

E Ala E (1995) featured the political title song "ʻE Ala ʻE" and "Kaleohano," and N Dis Life (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again."

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.

Alone in Iz World (2001) debuted at #1 on Billboard's World Chart and #135 on Billboard's Top 200, #13 on the Top Independent Albums Chart, and #15 on the Top Internet Album Sales charts.

On December 6, 2010, NPR named Kamakawiwoʻole as "The Voice of Hawaii" in its 50 great voices series.

On March 24, 2011, Kamakawiwoʻole was honored with the German national music award Echo. The music managers Wolfgang Boss and Jon de Mello accepted the trophy in his stead.

A 2014 Pixar short film, Lava, features two volcanoes as the main characters. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and his style of music was James Ford Murphy's partial inspiration for the short film.

'Ama 'Ama
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He aloha e ka i'a la
'Ai a ka 'ama'ama
'Ai a ka i'a la
'Ai a ka lawalu
'Ai a ka ho'omoemoe

He aloha e ka i'a la
'Ai a ka pa'a kai

'Ai a ka i'a la
'Ai a ka 'ono la
'Ai a ka sawa sawa

He aloha e ka i'a la
'Ai a ka ni'oi
'Ai a ka i'a la
'Ai a ka welawela
'Ai a ka puhipuhi

He aloha e ka i'a la
'Ai a ka 'o'opu
'Ai a ka i'a la
'Aia a ka 'ele'ele
'Ai a ia pake'oke'o

He aloha e ka i'a la
'Ai a ka 'opihi
'Ai a ka i'a la
'Ai a ka maka la
'Ai a ka piha pohaku

Haina 'ai 'ia mai
'Ai ana ka puana
Hiu a ka pipi stew

Hiu a ka miki poi
Hiu a ka piha opu

Overall Meaning

Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole’s song ‘Ama‘ama is a traditional Hawaiian fishing song that celebrates the simple life of fishing and the love for the ocean. The song is structured as a list of different types of fish that are caught by fishermen, each followed by a descriptive phrase. The song starts off with the line “He aloha e ka i'a la” which can be translated to “beloved fish”, and goes on to describe the different types of fish that are loved and appreciated by Hawaiians. The refrain of the song is “Ai ana ka puana”, which means “let the story be told”.

The song is essentially about the joy of fishing and the connection between the people of Hawaii and the ocean. The use of repetition in the song serves to emphasize this connection and highlights the importance of each fish that is caught. By listing the different types of fish and describing them, the song also highlights the unique qualities of each one and the importance of diversity in nature.

Overall, ‘Ama‘ama is a beautiful song about the simplicity of life and the love for nature that is central to Hawaiian culture. Through its simple lyrics, the song celebrates the joy of fishing and the deep connection between the people of Hawaii and the ocean.

Line by Line Meaning

He aloha e ka i'a la
Beloved is the fish

'Ai a ka 'ama'ama
Feast on the mullet

'Ai a ka i'a la
Eat the fish

'Ai a ka lawalu
Eat the sea urchin

'Ai a ka ho'omoemoe
Eat the dream of eating

'Ai a ka pa'a kai
Eat the limpet

'Ai a ka 'ono la
Eat the tasty one

'Ai a ka sawa sawa
Eat the rough one

'Ai a ka ni'oi
Eat the needlefish

'Ai a ka welawela
Eat the heat

'Ai a ka puhipuhi
Eat the blowfish