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.
Kamalani
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please answer me, Kamalani
Pu-kani-nui, Pu-kani-nui
Oh, here I am, Kamalani
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
Please come to me, Kamalani
When nights are still, Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
He beckons you, Kamalani
You'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice, here in this paradise
Please come to me Kamalani
When nights are still Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
Oh Here I am, Kamalani
We'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
You'll hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
The lyrics of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song Kamalani depict a longing for a lost love named Kamalani. The singer is searching for his love and asking for her to answer him. The mention of Pu-kani-nui suggests that this search is taking place in a forested area that may be considered paradise. The repetition of Kamalani's name throughout the song serves as a call to her and emphasizes the singer's yearning for her presence.
The lyrics suggest that at night, Kamalani can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui calling to her, and that this voice is a sign that they will be together again. This reinforces the idea of the forest being a paradise, as the voice of nature is presented as comforting and guiding. This theme of nature being a source of comfort and guidance is common in Hawaiian music, as the natural world is highly valued in Hawaiian culture.
Overall, the song Kamalani is a yearning for a lost love and a search for comfort in nature. Through the use of repetition, the song emphasizes the importance of love and the power of nature to guide and console those who are searching for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is my love, Kamalani
Asking where their loved one is named Kamalani
Please answer me, Kamalani
Asking Kamalani to reply
Pu-kani-nui, Pu-kani-nui
Repeating the name of someone named Pu-kani-nui
Oh, here I am, Kamalani
Kamalani responds, saying they are present
Here in this paradise
Kamalani is in a place of beauty and happiness
Kamalani, Kamalani
Repeating the name Kamalani
Is this the forest of heaven, here in this paradise
Wondering if the beautiful forest they are in is truly heaven
Please come to me, Kamalani
Asking Kamalani to come closer
When nights are still, Kamalani
Asking Kamalani to come at a time when everything is quiet
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
Implying that Pu-kani-nui's voice can be heard in the silence
He beckons you, Kamalani
Stating that Pu-kani-nui is calling Kamalani
You'll be together again
Suggesting that Kamalani and Pu-kani-nui will be reunited
You hear the sound of his voice, here in this paradise
Confirming that Pu-kani-nui's voice can be heard in the paradise
Oh Here I am, Kamalani
Kamalani responds again, saying they are present
We'll be together again
Believing that they will all be reunited again one day
You'll hear the sound of his voice
Repeating that the voice of Pu-kani-nui can be heard
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheBenjaminabc
Where is my love, Kamalani
Please answer me, Kamalani
Pu-kani-nui, Pu-kani-nui
Oh, here I am, Kamalani
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
Is this the forest of heaven, here in this paradise
Please come to me, Kamalani
When nights are still, Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
He beckons you, Kamalani
You'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice, here in this paradise
Please come to me Kamalani
When nights are still Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
Oh Here I am, Kamalani
We'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
You'll hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
@TheBenjaminabc
Where is my love, Kamalani
Please answer me, Kamalani
Pu-kani-nui, Pu-kani-nui
Oh, here I am, Kamalani
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
Is this the forest of heaven, here in this paradise
Please come to me, Kamalani
When nights are still, Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
He beckons you, Kamalani
You'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice, here in this paradise
Please come to me Kamalani
When nights are still Kamalani
You can hear the voice of Pu-kani-nui
Oh Here I am, Kamalani
We'll be together again
Kamalani, Kamalani
You hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
Kamalani, Kamalani
You'll hear the sound of his voice
Here in this paradise
@olchat2012
20+ years gone and it still feels as if he was still among us... IZ you are loved and very much missed.
@doctoroctos
Song written by Larry Rivera. As Larry told me the story, he was directed by Grace Guslander to write a romantic song to sing in the restaurant of the Coco Palms for visiting tourists. He struggled to come up with a song, but sitting by the hotel's pond, he wrote this amazing song about the bullfrogs singing at night. The song is quite popular in Hawaii, but the backstory always brings a smile to my face. If you ever hear Larry's version, he sneaks a couple frog noises in there, that you would only catch if you were paying close attention. I think Iz did an awesome job on this song. Have a good one!
@pasara100
Love this song
@jo-anni.benson2806
Wow, are you kidding? It's so deep, braddah Iz rendition touches the soul for generations to come. I miss my grandfather so much, and all of his generation..... I am blessed to be Hawaiian, my grandfather and grandmother's were pure Hawaiian and I love them so. To me they sing this to all of our ohana, as I sing this song for our generations to come. If God's Grace and Mercy wills this to be so. Love God, love your ohana!
@doctoroctos
We lost Uncle Larry today :(. We still have Bruddah Iz’s Kamalani.
@PatriciaDarlingOne
@@doctoroctos I am so sorry! WE watched him perform in Kauai... and we loved him. SO saddened; he was a blessing to this earth.
@user-ov9qe8wk9s
Thank you🔹 🔹so much for the background knowledge 🔹🔹🔹
@gregor9422
es ist so traurig, was uns allen so schönes von ihm verloren ging - diese tollen Lieder!!!!!!! - VIEL ZU FRÜH!!!
@MoonlightTheGreat
Das war erst der Anfang von seiner Karriere. Stell dir mal vor was für Wunderwerke er gesungen hätte wenn er heute noch bei uns wäre. Mahalo (Danke) IZ.