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.
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who fished out all the islands and captured the sun
His deeds and tasks I will unmask
So that you'll understand
That before there was a Clark Kent
There was a Hawaiian Superman
He fished out all the islands with a magic hook
He pulled morning sky, the sun he entwined
To slow down his flight, so kapa could dry
Chorus:
Mischievous, marvelous, magical Maui
Hero of this land
The one, the only, the ultimate Hawaiian Supaman
Oh Maui, Maui, Maui, Hawaiian supaman
Oh Maui, Maui, Maui, Hawaiian supaman
The secret of fire was locked somewhere in time
So when the ahi died in the hale kuke, no way to re-ignite
So off he goes in search of those who hold the information
So that fire could be used by all the future generations
He found that alae held the fire connection
But his plan of deception fell short of perfection
With no other choice he had to get mean
So he squeezed alae's throat until she screamed the secret
The song Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole tells the story of Maui, a mythical Hawaiian figure who is known for his mischievous yet mighty deeds. The lyrics paint a picture of a strong man who had exceptional powers that enabled him to accomplish supernatural tasks. The first verse talks about how Maui is the original Superman before Clark Kent, and goes on to describe his extraordinary deeds. Maui was responsible for creating the Hawaiian Islands; he did this by fishing them out of the sea with a magic hook. He also captured the sun, so that it would slow down its flight, giving people enough time to dry kapa.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that Maui was a hero, unlike any other, with the ultimate power to do anything. The second verse is about Maui's quest to find fire, which was essential for cooking and warmth in his community. Maui discovers that the knowledge of fire was held by the alae bird. However, when his plan to trick the bird failed, Maui squeezed the bird's neck until it revealed the secret of fire.
Overall, the song Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man is an ode to the Hawaiian culture, with a focus on their mythology and the legend of Maui. The lyrics celebrate Maui as a hero, who tirelessly worked to make the world a better place for his people.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, tall is the tale of the mischievous one
The story of Maui is a grand and impressive one, full of mischief and daring.
Who fished out all the islands and captured the sun
Maui was able to fish the islands out of the ocean and slow down the sun's journey across the sky.
His deeds and tasks I will unmask
I will reveal the many incredible feats and challenges Maui undertook.
So that you'll understand
By learning about Maui, you can gain greater insight into Hawaiian mythology and culture.
That before there was a Clark Kent
Before the comic book character of Superman, the Hawaiians had their own hero in Maui.
There was a Hawaiian Superman
Maui was a powerful and legendary figure who performed miraculous deeds.
He fished out all the islands with a magic hook
Using his enchanted fishing hook, Maui was able to pull the Hawaiian islands out of the sea.
There would've been more but somebody looked
Maui was responsible for creating all of the Hawaiian islands, but his work was interrupted by a nosy onlooker who caused the islands to stop growing.
He pulled morning sky, the sun he entwined
Maui was said to have captured the sun and made it slower so that the people of Hawaii could have more time to work during the day.
To slow down his flight, so kapa could dry
Maui slowed the sun's journey to allow people to dry kapa cloth in the sunlight.
Mischievous, marvelous, magical Maui
Maui was known for his playful, wondrous, and spellbinding nature.
Hero of this land
Maui was a beloved figure and regarded as a protector of the Hawaiian people.
The one, the only, the ultimate Hawaiian Supaman
Maui is a one-of-a-kind superhero in Hawaiian mythology, unmatched by any other.
Oh Maui, Maui, Maui, Hawaiian supaman
This is a chant celebrating Maui as the Hawaiian Superman.
The secret of fire was locked somewhere in time
At one point in history, the knowledge of how to create fire had been lost.
So when the ahi died in the hale kuke, no way to re-ignite
When the fires went out in the cooking house, because there was no fire to relight them, people were left without a way to cook.
So off he goes in search of those who hold the information
Maui went on a quest to discover the secret of how to make a new fire.
So that fire could be used by all the future generations
Maui wanted to help ensure that future generations of Hawaiians would have access to fire.
He found that alae held the fire connection
Maui discovered that the moorhen (alae) bird held the secret of how to make fire.
But his plan of deception fell short of perfection
Maui's attempts to fool the bird into revealing the secret were ultimately unsuccessful.
With no other choice he had to get mean
When Maui realized that he couldn't trick the bird, he took more forceful action.
So he squeezed alae's throat until she screamed the secret
Maui literally squeezed the bird until it screamed out the knowledge he needed to create fire.
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@HaitianBokorLeonardElmera363
Who is here after Max Holloway walked out to this?
@sbaby-nv1dd
Yesssir 😂
@yaboyslendoyt4613
same😂😂😂
@jairovazquez1146
Yup
@Kiseu_Daniel
Max is immortal.
@nickeversole2452
Me..best he's ever looked, upgrade from the Kattar fight..saying alot
@stee5157
THE BEST BOXER IN THE UFC BABY
@Dboyy1
Who’s here jamming this shii after Max knocked Justin out 😂🔥
@ThiagoSilva-pk3lg
KO of the story!!! MAX!!!
@xcoolthefoolx
BLESSED MAN FOREVER!