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The Voice of Hawaii<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMusic had always been a part of Israel\u2019s life. He was born on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwo\u2019ole Jr., a nightclub bouncer, and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo\u2019ole, a nightclub manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israel, also known as Bruddah Iz or simply Iz, was the nephew of musician and ukulele virtuoso Moe Keale. Israel credited Moe as a major musical influence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His older brother, Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwo\u2019ole III also known as Skippy, and cousin, Allen Thornton, have been playing music together since they were kids. It has been said that the room went silent whenever Israel started to sing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/israel-kamakawiwo-ole-playing-drums.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCritics had described Israel\u2019s voice as heavenly, soulful, silky, and other similar adjectives that relate to tenderness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his teens, Israel, Skippy, and three others formed the band Makaha Sons of Ni\u2019ihau<\/a>. The band continues to make music today as Makaha Sons with founding member Jerome Koko and two others. The band plays traditional Hawaiian and contemporary music. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was always Israel\u2019s goal to popularize traditional Hawaiian music nationwide. In his short lifetime, the singer and ukulele player achieved just that. It was thus apt for NPR music to dub Israel\u2019s vocals as the Voice of Hawaii<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Somewhere Over the Rainbow\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMakaha Sons of Ni\u2019ihau was considered Hawaii\u2019s most popular traditional group. It released at least eight albums with Israel. Israel recorded his last album with the band, Ho\u2019oluana<\/em>, in 1991. It is the band\u2019s top-selling CD. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn 1990, Israel released his debut album as a solo artist, Ka \u2018Ano\u2019i<\/em>, which won multiple Hawai\u2019i Academy of Recording Arts Awards. But it was his second album, Facing Future<\/em>, released in 1993, that put Israel on the map. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/kamakawiwo-ole-swimming.webp\")
Photo from Universal Music<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt featured his most famous hit, the \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\/What a Wonderful World\u201d medley. The album also featured some of Israel\u2019s biggest hits: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Hawai\u2019i \u201878<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- White Sandy Beach<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Maui Hawaiian Sup\u2019pa Man<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kaulana Kawaihae<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\u201d was a late addition to the album, although it was recorded as early as 1988. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/A-476787-1287396447.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMilan Bertosa<\/a>, one of the most popular Hawaiian producers and music engineers, recalled to NPR Music how he got a call at 3 a.m. because someone wanted to record music. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHe was about to close the recording studio but the caller was insistent and he eventually gave in.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bertosa recounted how 15 minutes later, the \u201clargest human being\u201d went inside the recording studio. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, people often had to scramble to find a chair that was big and sturdy enough for Israel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Israel-Kamakawiwoole-dit-IZ-1959-1997-en-tenue-traditionnelle.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThen I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll tape, and the first thing he does is \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow.\u201d He played and sang, one take, and it was over,\u201d Bertosa, who died on January 1, 2023<\/a>, said. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA copy was made for Israel while Bertosa kept the original recording which he would often play for family and friends during special occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As fate would have it in 1993, Bertosa worked as an engineer for Mountain Apple Company, a Hawaii-based recording studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Israel was recording his album at their studio, Bertosa told the producer about the singer\u2019s 1998 recording.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe song was included in the Facing Future<\/em> album, which remains the best-selling Hawaiian album of all time. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIsrael\u2019s rendition of \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\u201d is the most requested version<\/a> of the song worldwide. Zoomers and Millennials may not even be familiar with the original version anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe song was originally known as \u201cOver the Rainbow\u201d and was sung by Judy Garland for the movie The Wizard of Oz<\/em> in 1939. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song that year. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIsrael\u2019s version has been used in many films and TV shows, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- E.R. (1994-2009)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Meet Joe Black (1998)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Charmed (1998-2006)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Finding Forrester (2000)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Cold Case (2003-2010)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50 First Dates (2004)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fred Claus (2007)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Glee (2009-2015)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, the Library of Congress chose to preserve the song in the National Recording Registry for its cultural and historical significance<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCritics had described Israel\u2019s voice as heavenly, soulful, silky, and other similar adjectives that relate to tenderness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his teens, Israel, Skippy, and three others formed the band Makaha Sons of Ni\u2019ihau<\/a>. The band continues to make music today as Makaha Sons with founding member Jerome Koko and two others. The band plays traditional Hawaiian and contemporary music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was always Israel\u2019s goal to popularize traditional Hawaiian music nationwide. In his short lifetime, the singer and ukulele player achieved just that. It was thus apt for NPR music to dub Israel\u2019s vocals as the Voice of Hawaii<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Makaha Sons of Ni\u2019ihau was considered Hawaii\u2019s most popular traditional group. It released at least eight albums with Israel. Israel recorded his last album with the band, Ho\u2019oluana<\/em>, in 1991. It is the band\u2019s top-selling CD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1990, Israel released his debut album as a solo artist, Ka \u2018Ano\u2019i<\/em>, which won multiple Hawai\u2019i Academy of Recording Arts Awards. But it was his second album, Facing Future<\/em>, released in 1993, that put Israel on the map. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It featured his most famous hit, the \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\/What a Wonderful World\u201d medley. The album also featured some of Israel\u2019s biggest hits: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\u201d was a late addition to the album, although it was recorded as early as 1988. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Milan Bertosa<\/a>, one of the most popular Hawaiian producers and music engineers, recalled to NPR Music how he got a call at 3 a.m. because someone wanted to record music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He was about to close the recording studio but the caller was insistent and he eventually gave in.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bertosa recounted how 15 minutes later, the \u201clargest human being\u201d went inside the recording studio. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, people often had to scramble to find a chair that was big and sturdy enough for Israel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll tape, and the first thing he does is \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow.\u201d He played and sang, one take, and it was over,\u201d Bertosa, who died on January 1, 2023<\/a>, said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A copy was made for Israel while Bertosa kept the original recording which he would often play for family and friends during special occasions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As fate would have it in 1993, Bertosa worked as an engineer for Mountain Apple Company, a Hawaii-based recording studio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As Israel was recording his album at their studio, Bertosa told the producer about the singer\u2019s 1998 recording.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The song was included in the Facing Future<\/em> album, which remains the best-selling Hawaiian album of all time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel\u2019s rendition of \u201cSomewhere Over the Rainbow\u201d is the most requested version<\/a> of the song worldwide. Zoomers and Millennials may not even be familiar with the original version anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The song was originally known as \u201cOver the Rainbow\u201d and was sung by Judy Garland for the movie The Wizard of Oz<\/em> in 1939. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song that year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel\u2019s version has been used in many films and TV shows, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2020, the Library of Congress chose to preserve the song in the National Recording Registry for its cultural and historical significance<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Somewhere Over the Rainbow\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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