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.
White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were walking hand in hand
On a white sandy beach of Hawaii
We were playing in the sun
We were having so much fun
On a white sandy beach of Hawaii
Soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
Rocks me all night long
Those half-hound summer days
lying there in the sun
On a white sandy beach of Hawaii
The sound of the ocean
Soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
Rocks me all night long
Last night in my dream
I saw your face again
We were there in the sun
On a white sandy beach
On... oooonnnnn of Hawaii
The song White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is a sweet and romantic ballad that invites the listener on a journey through a dreamlike paradise. The song's lyrics carry a dreamy and heartfelt tone that transports the listener to a relaxing and charming location in white sandy beaches of Hawaii. From the first line, the singer of the song is taken back to a happy moment where they and their loved one were having fun in the sun while walking hand in hand on a white sandy beach. Throughout the song, the sound of the ocean is emphasized as being a significant component of the experience, soothing the soul and rocking the singer all night long. The song's imagery and lyrics perfectly capture the idyllic Hawaiian escape with one's loved ones, making it a favorite classic for those seeking relaxation, peace and a desire to be in Hawaii.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you in my dream
The singer dreamt of a person who they were with on a special occasion.
We were walking hand in hand
The singer and the person they dreamed of were enjoying each other's company.
On a white sandy beach of Hawaii
The setting of the dream was a beautiful beach in Hawaii.
We were playing in the sun
The artist and the person they dreamed of were having fun in the bright sunlight.
We were having so much fun
The artist and the person they dreamed of were truly enjoying themselves in each other's company.
The sound of the ocean
The calming sound of the waves crashing against the shore gives the singer peace.
Soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean helps calm the singer's restless inner thoughts.
Rocks me all night long
The soothing sound of the ocean helps the artist to sleep through the night.
Those half-hound summer days
The artist remembers a past summer where they had plenty of time to relax and enjoy themselves.
lying there in the sun
The artist recalls the serene sensation of sunbathing on the beach.
Last night in my dream
The singer is invoking the beginning of the song again, as if the whole experience is coming back to them.
I saw your face again
The person from the dream is still on the artist's mind and the image of their face comforts them.
We were there in the sun
The singer is transporting back to their dream and how pleasant it felt.
On a white sandy beach
The setting of the dream is a key factor to how positive the singer feels when thinking about it.
On... oooonnnnn of Hawaii
The singer engages with the listener, while accentuating the Hawaii setting in conversation.
Contributed by Elijah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ehobavs3101
@@PatrickVBentsen
Thank you for your comment from far away Denmark🙋
I got over the shock of being fired because of his amazing singing voice.
I was unemployed when I wrote my last comment, but now I have a job at the music room.
So I would like to teach my ukulele students about Iz someday.
I would like to pay tribute to Big Boy, who supported me through a difficult time, and tell more people about him.
I have a facingfuture album cover as a poster on the wall near my ukulele, and I like it because it makes the room feel like a calm atmosphere.
Also, I am attracted not only to his singing voice, but also to his character. His cool demeanor, the way he laughs, the way he smiles, the way he interacts with people, and the fact that he has such a big body (He died prematurely because of it) is all attractive!!
I love all music in the world. Among them he is one of the best singers.
Sorry for the long sentence. Anyway, even if the times change, I will remember his songs👒🏝
@omarmelchor8309
I saw you in my dreams
We were walking hand in hand
On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
We were playing in the sun
We were having so much fun
On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
The sound of the ocean
Soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
Rocks me all night long
Those hot long summer days
Lying there in the sun
On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
The sound of the ocean
Soothes my restless soul
The sound of the ocean
Rocks me all night long
Last night in my dreams
I saw your face again
We were there in the sun
On a white, sandy beach of Hawaii
@Thecoolestcat2009
Any one here in 2024
@mywifecalledmeapedobutshes6
Me
@q.a5831
Didn't know this song from him and it's beautiful 🙂
@bradwhite3294
Yeah I'm still kickin
@rahoo9246
Yup
@cmteolimpio8548
meee
@jamiecouanis7236
The ukulele and the sound of the beach with Israel singing sets my spirit free
@theplaylister7164
Me too
RIP iz ❤️
@ordyhorizonrivieredunord712
@@theplaylister7164 🐦
@matthewbreese6246
My mother passed away when I was 6. Im currently 18 and im leaving to boot camp in 6 days for the marines. This reminds me of her and hope to make her proud. 🙏