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.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Fire (is) hot hither here inside)
I ka hana a ke aloha
(In the act of love)
E lalawe nei ku'u kino
(Overwhelms here my body)
Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai
(Throbbing doubly much in the heart)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
'Imo 'imo h'k? iki
(Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Ha'oha'o au i? 'oe
(How I wonder what you are)
I luna loa o ke ao
(Up above the world so high)
Kohu kaimana i ka lani
(Like a diamond in the sky)
The lyrics of "Ahi Wela/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" depict the overwhelming sensation of love that has overtaken the singer's body, much like a blazing fire that burns within. The first verse, "Ahi wela mai nei loko, I ka hana a ke aloha, E lalawe nei ku'u kino, Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai" translates to "Fire (is) hot hither here inside, In the act of love, Overwhelms here my body, Throbbing doubly much in the heart." These verses describe the physical effect of love on the body, with an intense, burning heat that consumes the singer and makes their heart throb with emotion.
The second verse is the familiar nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," translated into Hawaiian language as "'Imo 'imo h'k? iki, Ha'oha'o au i? 'oe, I luna loa o ke ao, Kohu kaimana i ka lani." Here, the singer wonders about the beauty and mystery of the distant stars above. The contrast between the passionate intensity of the first verse and the childlike wonder of the second verse creates a unique blend of emotions that speaks to the complexity of love in all its forms.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire (is) hot hither here inside
There is heat inside, in the form of a flame
In the act of love
During a moment of showing affection
Overwhelms here my body
My physical being is consumed by this feeling
Throbbing doubly much in the heart
The heart is beating with increased intensity
Twinkle, twinkle little star
A small, shining celestial object
How I wonder what you are
I am curious about your nature
Up above the world so high
Located at a great height in the sky
Like a diamond in the sky
Resembling a type of precious stone in the sky
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulcollins8491
Ahi wela mai nei loko
(Fire (is) hot hither here inside)
I ka hana a ke aloha
(In the act of love)
E lalawe nei ku’u kino
(Overwhelms here my body)
Konikoni lua i ka pu'uwai
(Throbbing doubly much in the heart)
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
'Imo 'imo hoku iki
(Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Ha'oha'o au iâ 'oe
(How I wonder what you are)
I luna loa o ke ao
(Up above the world so high)
Kohu kaimana i ka lani
(Like a diamond in the sky)
@kerlytop
Ahi wela Mai nei loko
I ka hana a ke aloha
E lalawe nei ku’u kino
Konikoni lua I ka pu’uwai
Twinkle twinkle little star....
Imo imo hoku iki
Hao hao au’ia oe
Imu la lo a o ke a ho
Kohoka’i mana i Kalani
@river4462
Oh my heart lightens you know that Braddah IZ💜🏝🌟🌈
@BUS_MUSIC
Ke ʻōlelo mai nei ke Akua iā ʻoe i kēia lā; "Mai hoʻi i hope, ʻo ia ka mea a ka ʻenemi e makemake ai e hana ʻoe. E ʻoi aku kou wā e hiki mai ana ma mua o kou hala. ʻoi aku ka maikaʻi iā ʻoe ma mua. "E paulele i kāna mau ʻōlelo hoʻohiki🕊🕊🕊
Amene🙏🏾🙏🏾
@JuliaGonzalez-jl2kg
Recently just heard him and I am so sorry that he has passed. What a wonderful voice he had and still has through his music,
rest in Peace beautiful person.
@keusnicatima5943
What a amazing song! This guy has own heck of a voice
@Rangeman100
I picked this for our Father Daughter dance at her wedding.
@normagrimmett65
❤
@christopherschulz2936
Peace to the vaporized
@zanneyoungblood1141
Amazing and so soothing! What a true gift you have my dear heart!
@hectorcarabajal961
grande irael q paz tramiti hoy esta junto a dios fuiste y sera un grande paz paz paz para el mundo viva amor
@JKRost
I'm in tears.....perfection!