Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
From his early days with the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau to his highly successful solo career, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole captured the hearts of the people of Hawaiʻi with his unforgettable voice and ʻukulele accompaniment, as well as his advocacy on behalf of native Hawaiians. His music took the world by storm with the platinum album Facing Future, which became the greatest selling album by a Hawaiian artist, and the hit single medley "Over the Rainbow / Wonderful World" which became the most popular ʻukulele song of all time. Israel's impact on the people of Hawaiʻi cannot be overstated. He is the only nongovernment official to lie in state after his death, where thousands came to bid a final aloha to "The Voice of Hawaiʻi."
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was born on May 20, 1959 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Known universally as "IZ" or "Bruddah IZ," he grew up immersed in Hawaiian music and culture. He first gained widespread recognition as a founding member of the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau, one of the most beloved groups in the Hawaiian music renaissance of the 1970s and 80s.
IZ's medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World," recorded on a small four-track in 1988, has been heard by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The recording began with IZ phoning producer Milan Bertosa at 3 a.m. and asking if he could come in to record. Bertosa said yes, and within minutes IZ arrived with his ʻukulele and recorded the entire song in one take. The resulting performance remains one of the most recognizable ʻukulele recordings ever made.
His 1993 solo album Facing Future became the first album by a Hawaiian artist to be certified platinum. It remains the best-selling Hawaiian music album of all time and continues to sell steadily decades after its release.
IZ was also a passionate advocate for native Hawaiian rights and sovereignty. His music wove together Hawaiian cultural pride, love for the ʻāina (land), and a universal message of aloha that resonated far beyond the islands.
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole died on June 26, 1997 at the age of 38. His impact on the people of Hawaiʻi cannot be overstated — he is the only non-government official in Hawaii's history to lie in state at the Capitol, where thousands came to bid a final aloha to "The Voice of Hawaiʻi." His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mākua Beach on the Waiʻanae Coast of Oʻahu.