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.
'Ulili E
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Ahahana 'ulili ehehene 'ulili ahahana)
'Ulili ho'i
(Ehehene 'ulili ahahana 'ulili ehehene)
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ë
O ia kai ua lana mälie
The sandpiper
Sandpiper runs along the beach
Where the sea is peaceful and calm
Hone ana ko leo e 'ulili ë
O kahi manu noho 'ae kai
Kia'i ma ka lae a'o kekaha
'O ia kai ua lana mälie
The voice of the sandpiper is soft and sweet
Little bird who lives by the sea
Ever watchful on the beaches
Where the sea is calm
Hone ana ko leo kölea ë
Pehea 'o Kahiki? Maika'i nö
'O ia 'äina 'uluwehiwehi
I hui pü 'ia me ke onaona
The voice of the 'ulili is soft and sweet
How are you, stranger? Very well
You grace our land
Where the sea is always calm
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song 'Ulili E is a tribute to the sandpiper or the 'ulili bird that often runs along the beaches where the sea is peaceful and calm. The song is sung in Hawaiian language and the lyrics describe the bird's habitats and characteristics. The sandpiper's voice is described as soft and sweet, and it is a bird that lives by the sea and remains watchful on the beaches. While the sandpiper runs along the beach, its voice can be heard and it graces the land where the sea is always calm.
The song not only pays homage to the 'ulili bird, but it also reveals the importance of the sea and the beaches that the bird inhabits. The lyrics describe the sea as peaceful and calm, and it is a place of relaxation where we can soothe our minds and bodies. The sea is also a place of beauty, where the sandpiper and other creatures can find their homes and thrive. The 'ulili bird serves as a reminder that we should cherish and protect the natural habitat and environment because it is where we can find peace and harmony.
Line by Line Meaning
Ulili ë
The sandpiper
(Ahahana 'ulili ehehene 'ulili ahahana)
The sound the sandpiper makes
'Ulili ho'i
The sandpiper returns
(Ehehene 'ulili ahahana 'ulili ehehene)
The sound the sandpiper makes
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ë
Sandpiper runs along the beach
O ia kai ua lana mälie
Where the sea is peaceful and calm
Hone ana ko leo e 'ulili ë
The voice of the sandpiper is soft and sweet
O kahi manu noho 'ae kai
Little bird who lives by the sea
Kia'i ma ka lae a'o kekaha
Ever watchful on the beaches
'O ia kai ua lana mälie
Where the sea is calm
Hone ana ko leo kölea ë
The voice of the 'ulili is soft and sweet
Pehea 'o Kahiki? Maika'i nö
How are you, stranger? Very well
'O ia 'äina 'uluwehiwehi
You grace our land
I hui pü 'ia me ke onaona
Where the sea is always calm
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@regisdixit
Sing along with IZ!
Hone ana ko leo e 'ulili ē
O kahi manu noho 'ae kai
Kia'i ma ka lae a'o kekaha
'O ia kai ua lana mālie
'Ulili ē
'Ulili ho'i
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ē
O ia kai ua lana mālie
'Ulili ē
'Ulili ho'i
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ē
O ia kai ua lana mālie
(bridge)
Hone ana ko leo kōlea ē
Pehea 'o Kahiki? Maika'i nō
'O ia 'āina 'uluwehiwehi
I hui pū 'ia me ke onaona
'Ulili ē
'Ulili ho'i
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ē
O ia kai ua lana mālie
'Ulili holoholo kahakai ē
O ia kai ua lana mālie
'Ulili ē
'Ulili ho'i
'Ulili ē
'Ulili ho'i
@girlsrule722
I too am on the other side of the world and truly love IZ. He sings like the Angel's and now he sings with the Angels. We are so blessed not just with his music. But with his messages to kids and to us. To love one another. I love you IZ Rest in Peace.
@lauraldarnaypronzatto1309
Gracias Israel me has alegrado al escucharte Dios te bendiga Todo Tú Ser Canta interpretas con todo tu Corazón, Tú Voz Ilumina Mí Corazón!"
@MarciaCristina-tc8qe
Sempre sensacional!
@ventaquemadaboyaca7953
Esa música llega al alma. lo amo. qué hermoso
@luvperu1
RIP IZ.. Thank you for your beautiful voice!!
@sylviarivera1804
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! OVER THE RAINBOW!!!!!! BRILLIANT!!!!!SWEET SOUNDS THANK YOU !!!!!LOVELY!!!!NICE LIFE!!!!!!!!
@DILO
Mesmo morto continua à arrebentar. Grande IZ!
@dominiqueblanc3783
La voix des anges Live !!
Thanks for my soul ! 💕🙋
@reinaldounico7296
Gracias gran maestro , por.su bella música
@oscarrapiditie9928
I'm from the other side of the world and love every single damn song you make, you are the creator of