Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Native Hawaiian musician known for his ukulele and iconic medley.
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole—known to many as Braddah IZ or simply IZ—was a Native Hawaiian musician and singer born on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu. He is widely considered one of Hawaii’s greatest and most commercially successful musicians. His influence on Hawaiian music endures, thanks in part to his ukulele playing and his blending of genres like jazz and reggae. In 2010, NPR named him one of the 50 Great Voices, calling him “The Voice of Hawaii.”
Kamakawiwoʻole’s big commercial breakthrough came with his 1993 studio album *Facing Future*. His medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” from that same album, spent 375 weeks at number one on the World Digital Songs chart—the longest-running number-one hit on any Billboard song chart.
Born at Kuakini Medical Center, Kamakawiwoʻole was the son of Henry “Hank” Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole Jr. and Evangeline “Angie” Leinani Kamakawiwoʻole. Both worked at a popular Waikiki nightclub, where Angie managed and Hank worked as a bouncer; Hank also drove a sanitation truck at the Pearl Harbor Navy yard. His uncle, notable Hawaiian musician Moe Keale, was a major musical influence. Raised in Kaimuki, where his parents met and married, Kamakawiwoʻole started playing music at age 11 with his older brother, Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwoʻole III (“Skippy”), and cousin Allen Thornton. They were inspired by Hawaiian entertainers like Peter Moon, Palani Vaughan, Keola Beamer, and Don Ho, who often performed at the nightclub where his parents worked. Musician Del Beazley recalled that when Kamakawiwoʻole first sang at a graduation party, the whole room fell silent. While Skippy joined the Army in 1971 and Allen moved to the mainland in 1976, Kamakawiwoʻole stayed in Hawaii.
In his early teens, Kamakawiwoʻole studied at Upward Bound at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and his family moved to Mākaha. There, he met Louis Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with Skippy, they formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau. As part of the Hawaiian Renaissance, the band blended contemporary and traditional styles, touring Hawaii and the mainland U.S. and releasing fifteen successful albums. Kamakawiwoʻole aimed to keep his music true to traditional Hawaiian sound. His cousin Bill Keale is also a musician.
- Born
- May 20, 1959, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Died
- June 26, 1997, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Field
- Musician, singer
- Nationality
- Native Hawaiian
- Known for
- Medley 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World'; album Facing Future; longest-leading number-one hit on any Billboard song chart
Lore & Background
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was born at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu to Henry and Evangeline Kamakawiwoʻole, who worked at a Waikiki nightclub. His uncle, Moe Keale, was a notable Hawaiian musician and major influence. Raised in Kaimuki, he began playing music at age 11 with his older brother Skippy and cousin Allen Thornton, inspired by entertainers like Peter Moon and Don Ho. In his early teens, his family moved to Mākaha, where he met Louis Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with Skippy, they formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau, a band that blended contemporary and traditional styles and became part of the Hawaiian Renaissance.
Kamakawiwoʻole released his first solo album *Ka ʻAnoʻi* in 1990, winning awards for Contemporary Album of the Year. His landmark album *Facing Future* (1993) featured the iconic medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" and became the first album in Hawaii to be certified platinum, after first achieving gold certification.
Reader's Guide
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's significance lies in his role as a defining figure of Hawaiian music and culture. His medley of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World' achieved unprecedented commercial success, spending 375 weeks at number one on the World Digital Songs chart, the longest-leading number-one hit on any Billboard song chart. His album Facing Future was the first Hawaii album to be certified gold and later platinum, marking a milestone for the state's music industry. Beyond commercial success, Kamakawiwoʻole used his music to advocate for Hawaiian rights and independence, embedding messages about caring for the land and culture in songs like 'Hawaiʻi '78.' His legacy includes being named 'The Voice of Hawaii' by NPR in 2010, receiving a German Echo award in 2011, and being inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2017. A bronze bust was unveiled in his honor in 2003, and a 2014 Pixar short film, Lava, was partially inspired by his style. His YouTube videos have collectively received over 1.83 billion views as of May 2025, demonstrating his enduring global appeal.
Did You Know?
- He was the third person and the only non-government official to have his casket lie at the state capitol building in Honolulu.
- A 2014 Pixar short film, Lava, was partially inspired by Kamakawiwoʻole's cover of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and his style of music.
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