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.
Sea of Love
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
Yes I do
Come with me my love to the sea
My sea of love, baby
I want to tell you, oh just how much I love you
So come with me to the sea
My love
Do you remember when we met?
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you just how much I love you
So come with me my love to my sea
My sea of love, baby
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
Yes I do
So come with me to the sea
Oh, my love
Do you remember when we met?
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you just how much I love you
Yes I do
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
I love you
I love you
The lyrics to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song Sea of Love describe the powerful feeling of love and how it can be likened to the vastness and depth of the sea. The song opens with a nostalgic question, "Do you remember when we met?", recalling the moment when the singer discovered the object of his affection. He then refers to his love interest as his "pet," perhaps suggesting a sense of ownership or affectionate nickname.
The chorus is an invitation to join him in his "sea of love," a place of infinite depth and emotion. He repeats his desire to express how much he loves his partner and asks them to come along with him to this place of pure emotion. The repetition of the chorus throughout the song emphasizes the singer's intense feelings and desire for his partner to be with him in this place of emotional depth.
Overall, the lyrics to Sea of Love celebrate the power of love to create an all-encompassing, immersive experience. It speaks to the intensity of emotion that love can inspire and the desire to share that experience with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember when we met?
Brings up shared memories and adds a nostalgic tone to the song.
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
Describes the moment when the singer first set eyes on his lover and realized they were meant for each other.
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
The singer's overwhelming feelings of love for his partner and desire to share them.
Yes I do
Emphasizes the sincerity and certainty of the singer's love.
Come with me my love to the sea
Invitation to go on a romantic journey together to a special place.
My sea of love, baby
The singer's description of the depth and intensity of the love he has for his partner, using the metaphor of the sea.
So come with me to the sea
Further emphasizing the invitation to share a meaningful experience together.
I want to tell you just how much I love you
Repeating earlier sentiments, expressing how important it is to the singer to make his love known.
Oh, my love
Endearing way of addressing his partner.
I love you
The song's ultimate message, expressing the depth and strength of the singer's feelings for his partner.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Khoury, Philip Baptiste
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Julia Watson
Do you remember when we met?
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
Yes I do
Come with me my love to the sea
My sea of love, baby
I want to tell you, oh just how much I love you
Yes I do
So come with me to the sea
My love
Do you remember when we met?
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you just how much I love you
So come with me my love to my sea
My sea of love, baby
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
Yes I do
So come with me to the sea
Oh, my love
Do you remember when we met?
Ooh, it was a day, I knew you were my pet, baby
I want to tell you just how much I love you
Yes I do
I want to tell you, oh how much I love you
I love you
I love you
Sandra Escudero
Bellísima canción y maravillosa voz !!!!! Un placer escuchar tan cálida y dulce voz que nos llega al alma!!!!! Mahalo gran IZ!!!!! Disfrutaremos tu talento musical por siempre!!!!!!❤❤❤
yegor
amo muito essa musica
David Hendrickson
I miss Iz so much. His music always took me places.
CerealMan27
One of the best artists ever
piros97
Thank you for visiting and commenting, wish you beautiful days ahead :)
hannah xxx
learned this song by reading the book sea of love, i don't regret it
Maria Aparecida
Que música mais linda! Que pena que você IZ já se foi pra eternidade mas mesmo assim 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Donna Smith
The most beautiful voice I have ever heard.
CerealMan27
A beautiful song.
Darren Rowdy
That man had a voice of hypnotic power. I've found myself going back and forth from youtube over the last couple of years since I first found out who he was. Such a struggle in life, but what a legacy to leave behind. Such a gift from God, now he is with the Giver.