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.
Ahi Wela
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hui: / Chorus:
Ahi wela mai nei loko
(Fire (is) hot hither here inside)
I ka hana a ke aloha
(In the act of love)
(Overwhelms here my body)
Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai
(Throbbing doubly much in the heart)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
'Imo 'imo hôkû iki
(Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Ha'oha'o au iâ 'oe
(How I wonder what you are)
I luna loa o ke ao
(Up above the world so high)
Kohu kaimana i ka lani
(Like a diamond in the sky)
(E hana hou i ka hui)
(Repeat chorus)
The lyrics of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song "Ahi Wela" depict the intense passion and overwhelming feeling of love between two people. The Hui (Chorus) emphasizes the strong physical and emotional sensations that the two individuals experience when they are together. The phrase "Ahi wela mai nei loko" (Fire (is) hot hither here inside) is a metaphor for the burning desire and intense passion that they share.
The second line of the chorus "I ka hana a ke aloha" (In the act of love) further emphasizes their deep connection and intimate relationship. The phrase "E lalawe nei ku'you kino" (Overwhelms here my body) portrays the all-consuming aspect of their love. The last line "Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai" (Throbbing doubly much in the heart) depicts the intense physical and emotional sensations that they experience and how their love affects them.
The second half of the song features a children's song 'Imo 'imo hôkû iki (Twinkle, twinkle little star) in Hawaiian. This part of the song adds a sense of innocence and joy to contrast with the intense passion of the first half. In summary, the lyrics of "Ahi Wela" evoke the powerful feeling of love and how it can be all-consuming and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
Ahi wela mai nei loko
The fire of love burns intensely within me
I ka hana a ke aloha
As I act on my love
E lalawe nei ku'you kino
My body is overcome with emotion
Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai
My heart beats doubly fast
'Imo 'imo hôkû iki
Twinkle, twinkle little star
Ha'oha'o au iâ 'oe
I am in awe of you
I luna loa o ke ao
High above the world
Kohu kaimana i ka lani
Like a shining diamond in the sky
(E hana hou i ka hui) Repeat chorus
Repeat the chorus
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulcollins8491
Ahi wela mai nei loko
(Fire (is) hot hither here inside)
I ka hana a ke aloha
(In the act of love)
E lalawe nei ku’u kino
(Overwhelms here my body)
Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai
(Throbbing doubly much in the heart)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
'Imo 'imo hoku iki
(Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Ha'oha'o au iâ 'oe
(How I wonder what you are)
I luna loa o ke ao
(Up above the world so high)
Kohu kaimana i ka lani
(Like a diamond in the sky)
@kerlytop
Ahi wela Mai nei loko
I ka hana a ke aloha
E lalawe nei ku’u kino
Konikoni lua I ka pu’uwai
Twinkle twinkle little star....
Imo imo hoku iki
Hao hao au’ia oe
Imu la lo a o ke a ho
Kohoka’i mana i Kalani
@river4462
Oh my heart lightens you know that Braddah IZ💜🏝🌟🌈
@BUS_MUSIC
Ke ʻōlelo mai nei ke Akua iā ʻoe i kēia lā; "Mai hoʻi i hope, ʻo ia ka mea a ka ʻenemi e makemake ai e hana ʻoe. E ʻoi aku kou wā e hiki mai ana ma mua o kou hala. ʻoi aku ka maikaʻi iā ʻoe ma mua. "E paulele i kāna mau ʻōlelo hoʻohiki🕊🕊🕊
Amene🙏🏾🙏🏾
@JuliaGonzalez-jl2kg
Recently just heard him and I am so sorry that he has passed. What a wonderful voice he had and still has through his music,
rest in Peace beautiful person.
@keusnicatima5943
What a amazing song! This guy has own heck of a voice
@Rangeman100
I picked this for our Father Daughter dance at her wedding.
@normagrimmett65
❤
@christopherschulz2936
Peace to the vaporized
@zanneyoungblood1141
Amazing and so soothing! What a true gift you have my dear heart!
@hectorcarabajal961
grande irael q paz tramiti hoy esta junto a dios fuiste y sera un grande paz paz paz para el mundo viva amor
@JKRost
I'm in tears.....perfection!