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.
Over the Rainbow _ What a Wonderful World
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Someday, I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to
Oh why, oh why can't I?
Well, I see trees of green and red roses too
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well, I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do?
They're really saying I, I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more then we'll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
World
Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why oh, why can't I?
"Somewhere over the rainbow" is a song about dreaming and wishing, holding on to hope and the belief that anything is possible. The line "way up high" refers not only to the physical location of the rainbow, but also to the lofty and seemingly unattainable dreams we hold in our hearts. The mention of bluebirds flying also adds to the dreamy and magical tone of the song. The repetition of the phrase "dreams that you dream of" emphasizes the power of imagination and highlights the importance of holding onto our dreams.
The second half of the song, "What a Wonderful World," celebrates the beauty and diversity of the world we live in. The lyrics describe the joy of witnessing nature's beauty, from the blooming flowers to the colors of the rainbow. The line "And I think to myself what a wonderful world" serves as a reminder to appreciate the simple yet amazing things in life. The song's message is ultimately one of hope and positivity, encouraging listeners to focus on the good and keep dreaming.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow
There is a place beyond our current reality
Way up high
It's a place that exists far beyond where we are now
And the dreams that you dream of
A place where we can make our dreams come true
Once in a lullaby
This place only exists in our dreams
Somewhere over the rainbow
This place is where anything is possible
Bluebirds fly
It's a magical place where even birds can fly in different colors
And the dreams that you dream of
A place where our dreams can become reality
Dreams really do come true
It's not just a fantasy, anything we dream of is possible
Someday, I wish upon a star
We all have dreams and wishes, just like the artist
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
This place is far, far away from our daily struggles
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
In this place, even our problems are sweet and easily solvable
High above the chimney top
It's a place that exists beyond the mundane and ordinary
That's where you'll find me
The singer longs to escape to this magical place
And the dreams that you dare to
Even the most impossible of dreams can come true here
Oh why, oh why can't I?
The singer longs to escape to this magical paradise
Well, I see trees of green and red roses too
The real world is still beautiful, despite its flaws
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
We can all appreciate nature's beauty
And I think to myself
The singer reflects on the beauty in the world
What a wonderful world
Despite life's challenges, it's still an amazing place to be alive in
Well, I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
The sky is a testament to the beauty of the world
And the brightness of day
Even the most mundane parts of life can be beautiful
I like the dark
Even the dark can be beautiful and worth appreciating
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The world is full of beauty and wonder
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Nature provides us with a wide arrange of colors that are always breathtaking
And also on the faces of people passing by
Even people can bring color to our lives with simple acts of kindness
I see friends shaking hands saying
Strong relationships with others are things that make life meaningful
How do you do?
It's the small, genuine exchanges of kindness that brighten up life
They're really saying I, I love you
Love is the ultimate source of happiness and beauty in the world
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
Life is a journey and everyone is growing constantly
They'll learn much more then we'll know
Children are the future, and they'll learn things that will amaze us
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
The world, with all its complexities and beauty, is truly remarkable.
World
A reminder of the beauty we can find in the world.
Someday I wish upon a star
The artist still longs for that magical place beyond the rainbow
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
A place without the struggles of the real world
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
A place where everything is simple and sweet
High above the chimney top
A place far away from the noise of the world
That's where you'll find me
The singer wants to be there, where everything is wonderous.
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
The magical paradise, beyond our means.
Why oh, why can't I?
A reminder that we all long for that perfect paradise.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, E HARBURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kristincaldwell8747
Played this at my son's funeral, July 19th 2020.
Joshua was 30 yrs,
11months and two meeks old.
Today is my birthday and I'm so sad, my heart shattered that day...this is one of the firsts I've been dreading..
Can't stop living , but don't know how to really ..live without him.
Need a miracle ❣
I love you joshie. stay beautiful.
@marinapetrova61
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you’ll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I? i iiii
Well I see trees of green and
Red roses too,
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, «How do you do?»
They’re really saying, I…I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them
grow,
They’ll learn much more
Than we’ll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld
Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that’s where you’ll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can’t I? I hiii
@user-zs2gs4wi5m
Ki Ora from
Your no 1 fan
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MAORI
BATTALION
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Ngati Manaipoto Tribal member since 1971.
Thanks for your hard work.
Blessings to you.
From
ANDERSON HOLDINGS
KAWHIIA
CAMBRIDGE
DUNEDIN
@sdb1962
Played this at my son's funeral 6 years ago, he was 28, today is his birthday.
@robertmartin5308
.OMG how do you endure, god bless you.
@edilarteaga8215
R.i.p .very sorry
@jimgrossman5367
Prayers for you and your family. May the Lord of all creation and the one who gave the promise of the rainbow wrap you in his loving arms and bless you with mercies new, afresh every morning. May God keep you, and cause his face to shine upon you
@bosco2023
Happy birthday to your son. This was supposed to be my song when I go. I’m 44 and my dad passed going on 3 years ago of colon cancer. Not trying to weird you out but my dad visits me all the time. And let’s me know what’s going on. He was cremated and he’s over my shoulder as I type. He’s here when he wants to be. Have you had tour son visit?
@crystalhill5367
Thinking of you 💖🌈
@Sadieandkids
My dear husband passed away on July 9, 2023. Right before he passed he said he heard this song and it relaxed him. He said he knew now why I loved the song. He passed away a day and half after telling me this. This was the only song I played at his funeral. 😭 We were together almost 35 years and had 7 Children.
@jayreed9630
God bless you both.
@scottbloom6855
This was the song we played at my Mom's memorial service. She and my dad had been married 11 days short of their 65th wedding anniversary. My dad only lasted 10 months after her passing. H simply could not go on without her, and died of a broken heart.
@KellyBeatty-gw1ku
This was one of my mom's favorite songs