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.
Ka Huila Wai
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai
He aniani ku, mau 'oe no
He hoa kukā, pu me kāua
Aloha 'ia no, 'o'i'o lele
I sa lele ahea, i ka moana
Aloha 'ia no, 'o Waiohinu
Ka pali lele wai, a ke koa'e
Mai noho 'oe, a ho'o poina
I kahi pīkake, ulu ma'ema'e
Ha'ina 'ia mai, ana ka puana
A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai
"Ka Huila Wai" is a beautiful Hawaiian song performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. It speaks about the love and appreciation for nature that the Hawaiians possess, particularly the water. The opening lines, "Ku wale mai no, Ka Huila Wai, Aohe wai iau e niniu ai," mean "Ka Huila Wai is standing there alone, there is no water for me to sip." This line can be interpreted to mean that the singer is thirsty, but more broadly, it represents the lack of access to the life-giving resource of water, which is essential to the people of Hawaii.
The second verse, "He aniani ku, mau 'oe no, He hoa kukā, pu me kāua," speaks about a friend, who is always present to talk and share ideas with. The reference to aniani ku, which means a medicinal herb, could suggest that this friend is someone who has healing qualities.
In the final verse, "Mai noho 'oe, a ho'o poina, I kahi pīkake, ulu ma'ema'e, Ha'ina 'ia mai, ana ka puana, A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai," the singer warns not to forget a certain place that is pure, clean, and where pikake (a popular Hawaiian flower) grow. The song ends with the repeating line "A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai," meaning "there is no water for me to drink." The song as a whole is a tribute to the importance of water and nature in Hawaii, as well as a gentle warning not to take these resources for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Ku wale mai no, Ka Huila Wai
Ka Huila Wai stands alone
'A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai
I cannot be quenched by water
He aniani ku, mau 'oe no
You are a steadfast rock
He hoa kukā, pu me kāua
A friend to talk with, join us
Aloha 'ia no, 'o'i'o lele
Love to soar high
I sa lele ahea, i ka moana
Flying over the ocean
Aloha 'ia no, 'o Waiohinu
Loved is Waiohinu
Ka pali lele wai, a ke koa'e
Cliffs where seabirds fly
Mai noho 'oe, a ho'o poina
Do not stay and forget
I kahi pīkake, ulu ma'ema'e
In a place of blooming beauty
Ha'ina 'ia mai, ana ka puana
Let the story be told
A'ohe wai ia'u, e niniu ai
I cannot be quenched by water
Contributed by Riley G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronineditor9920
Kū wale mai no ka huila wai
ʻAʻohe wai ia`u e niniu ai
----
The windmill just stands still
No water comes swirling up
He aniani kū mau ʻoe no
He hoa kūkā pū me kāua
---
You are a constant reflection of me
My companion, always conversing with me
Aloha ʻia nō Mōlīlele
I ka lele ahea i ka moana
---
Beloved indeed is Mōlīlele
When the clouds swirl, the ocean is stormy
Aloha ʻia nō o Waiʻōhinu
Ka pali lele wai a ke koaʻe
---
Beloved is the koaʻe bird from
The waterfall of Waiʻōhinu
Mai noho ʻoe a hoʻopoina
I kahi pīkake ulu maʻemaʻe
---
Just don't you forget
This attractive peacock
Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
ʻAʻohe wai iʻau e niniu ai
---
Tell the refrain
No water comes swirling up
@lezaseagraves6385
If you did not have the opportunity to hear IZ while he was alive, definitely watch him now! RIP IZ~U SPREAD LOVE~!
@jameskandy
This is my “get up and greet the day” song ❤️❤️❤️
@philglatz4360
Israel had such a great voice! He is now with our Great God!
@ronineditor9920
Kū wale mai no ka huila wai
ʻAʻohe wai ia`u e niniu ai
----
The windmill just stands still
No water comes swirling up
He aniani kū mau ʻoe no
He hoa kūkā pū me kāua
---
You are a constant reflection of me
My companion, always conversing with me
Aloha ʻia nō Mōlīlele
I ka lele ahea i ka moana
---
Beloved indeed is Mōlīlele
When the clouds swirl, the ocean is stormy
Aloha ʻia nō o Waiʻōhinu
Ka pali lele wai a ke koaʻe
---
Beloved is the koaʻe bird from
The waterfall of Waiʻōhinu
Mai noho ʻoe a hoʻopoina
I kahi pīkake ulu maʻemaʻe
---
Just don't you forget
This attractive peacock
Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana
ʻAʻohe wai iʻau e niniu ai
---
Tell the refrain
No water comes swirling up
@viktoriagroepper5288
Gosh, this is an absolutely beautiful song. I listen to it over and over again and without understanding the language, I feel so much when listening to it. An angelic voice. Thank you for the beautiful music, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
@davem.2788
Incredible. Hauntingly beautiful. Israel- you are missed brother.
@unkobubba9754
Hauoli la hanau Bruddah IZ. Mahaloplenty for your gift of music that resonates deep in my heart and always takes me back home. Like every year on our birthday I listen to this song that holds so many special memories for me. Mahaloplenty
@cardestio
98 dislikes? WTF?
Shows what they know!
Outstanding song!
Mahalo
@estelacabrera4540
' Estoy muy emocionada con este cantante fabuloso su música me transmite mucha emoción no puedo dejar de escucharlo lo amo
@sorayaa_000
a día de hoy lo sigues escuchando?