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.
Hele on to Kauai
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not too big, in fact its kinda small
The people there know they got it all
The simple life for me
Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home
When I was young, not too smart
I left my home, looking for a brand new start
To find a place that's better still
now I know, I know I never will
Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home
Hele on to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home
It's calling me back home
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song Hele on to Kauai is a reflection on the artist's love for his home island of Kauai and his yearning to return. The opening lines describe Kauai as a small paradise where the people are content with the simple life. The listener is invited to join the singer on a journey back to Kauai, starting with the picturesque Hanalei Bay and the tranquil Wailua River valley where the singer used to play. The song further invokes the imagery of the canyons of Waimea glowing in the sunset, and the magic of the garden isle that has been calling the artist back home.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that they had once left Kauai as a young and naive person seeking a better life, only to realize that Kauai was the home they had been looking for all along. The chorus is repeated, solidifying the message of the song and urging the listener to join the singer in returning to the beauty of Kauai.
The song's simple yet heartfelt lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for home, which is relatable to listeners who have experienced homesickness or displacement. It also highlights the beauty and allure of Kauai to outsiders who may not be familiar with the island.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place I recall
I remember a certain place
Not too big, in fact its kinda small
It's not a big place, actually it's pretty small
The people there know they got it all
The inhabitants there appreciate what they have
The simple life for me
I prefer a simple way of living
Hele on to Kauai
Let's go to Kauai
Hanalei by the bay
We can visit Hanalei Bay
Wailua river valley is where I used to play
I used to spend time in Wailua River Valley
The canyons of Waimea standing all aglow
Waimea's canyons are spectacularly illuminated
The magic of the garden isle is calling me back home
The enchantment of the garden island is urging me to return
When I was young, not too smart
When I was young and inexperienced
I left my home, looking for a brand new start
I departed from home, searching for a fresh beginning
To find a place that's better still
To discover a location that's even better
now I know, I know I never will
But I now realize that I won't ever find such a place
It's calling me back home
The place is summoning me to come back
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@keeledover4218
been every place in this picture love kauai
@finerjoysoflife428
A big hug to kauai ; all the way form Massachusetts.
@themothinyourroom9403
"to find a place, that is better still, and know i know, i know i never will" as someone who spent their entire life living in the islands this really spoke to me
@marymorningstar4508
Love you IZ. You live on and your voice comforts us who are still here on this earth
@dulcerodovalho3667
❤️amo muito ❤️ Iz
@808grown
2020 and I’m still listening to you my braddah Iz!! love and miss you always 💙 Rest in love braddah 🕊
@athenaryan3205
beautiful song that i 100% agree with. there is no place better than kauai.
@doughuard5035
I love him so much...he changed my life 100% he inspires me to be the best man I can possibly be and to love all! I listen to IZ all throughout my day and my baby and I fall asleep to my IZ every single night...RIP my young brother you’re truly and angel!! Thank you we’re with all I have within me and god bless your beautiful soul!!! You are my hero🙏❤️ all my love!
@jacobso223
This man was ultimately saved by Jesus. Yes, he's in heaven now.
@Itubrew2ube
This Man has the most beautiful voice i I have ever heard on this planet.