Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, also known as Braddah IZ, is celebrated as one of Hawaii's greatest musicians and was named one of NPR's 50 Great Voices in 2010.
Born in Honolulu, Kamakawiwoʻole was raised in a musical family, with his mother managing a nightclub and his uncle being a notable musician.
His medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" became a defining hit, featured on his platinum album "Facing Future."
Biography
Early Life
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, affectionately known as Braddah IZ, was born on May 20, 1959, at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was raised in a musical family; his mother, Evangeline, managed a popular Waikiki nightclub, while his father, Henry, worked as a bouncer and sanitation truck driver. Influenced by his uncle, the notable Hawaiian musician Moe Keale, Kamakawiwoʻole began playing music at the age of 11 with his brother Skippy and cousin Allen. His early exposure to Hawaiian entertainers like Peter Moon and Don Ho shaped his musical journey.
Music Career
Kamakawiwoʻole's career took off when he formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau, a group that became Hawaii's most popular contemporary traditional band. They released several successful albums, including the top-selling "Hoʻoluana" in 1991. In 1990, he launched his solo career with the album "Ka ʻAnoʻi," which won accolades for Contemporary Album of the Year. His 1993 album "Facing Future" featured the iconic medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World," which became a defining moment in his career. This album was later certified platinum, marking a significant achievement in Hawaiian music.
Later Life and Legacy
In the 1990s, Kamakawiwoʻole embraced Christianity and publicly shared his faith. However, he struggled with obesity, which led to various health issues. He passed away on June 26, 1997, at the age of 38 due to respiratory failure. His funeral was attended by approximately 10,000 people, and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean, a testament to his profound impact on Hawaiian culture. In 2003, a bronze bust was unveiled in his honor, celebrating his legacy as one of Hawaii's greatest musicians. Kamakawiwoʻole's music continues to resonate, with his rendition of "Over the Rainbow" garnering over 1.83 billion views on YouTube as of May 2025.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
IZ: The Best of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole2011
- 1.Mona Lisa2:00
- 2.Kaleohano3:42
- 3.'Ulili E2:49
- 4.Hawaii Medley: Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy / Ka Huila Wai4:14
- 5.Hi'ilawe4:42
- 6.Henehene Kou 'Aka4:23
- 7.Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star3:44
- 8.'Opae E4:01
- 9.Starting All Over Again5:43
- 10.Over The Rainbow3:32
- 11.Panini Pua Kea3:05
- 12.La 'Elima3:39
- 13.In This Life4:10
- 14.What A Wonderful World4:28
- 15.Hawai'i '78 (Intro)5:05
- 16.Ka Huila Wai3:20
- 17.'Ama 'ama2:12
- 18.Panini Pua Kea3:06
- 19.Take Me Home Country Road4:55
- 20.Kuhio Bay3:29
- 21.Ka Pua U`i2:53
- 22.White Sandy Beach2:36
- 23.Henehene Kou 'Aka4:20
- 24.La `Elima3:39
- 25.Pili Me Ka'u Manu2:32
- 26.Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man3:52
- 27.Kaulana Kawaihae4:00
- 28.Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World (Medley)5:08
- 29.Hawai`i` ʻ785:15
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: The Best of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole2010
- 1.Over the Rainbow3:33
- 2.Hawai'i '785:17
- 3.White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i2:37
- 4.Wind Beneath My Wings / He Hawai'i Au4:39
- 5.Kaulana Kawaihae4:01
- 6.'Ulili E2:51
- 7.Hele On To Kaua'i2:26
- 8.Ka Pua U'i2:55
- 9.Hi'ilawe4:45
- 10.La 'Elima3:40
- 11.'Opae E4:09
- 12.In This Life4:11
- 13.What a Wonderful World4:30
Unforgettable2008
- 1.Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World (remix)4:02
- 2.I'll Be There / Warren's Song (remix)4:09
- 3.Kawohikukapulani2:56
- 4.Sea of Love (remix)3:00
- 5.Nohili E3:44
- 6.Kumulipo / E Pua Ana Ka Makani4:10
- 7.Rusty Old Steampipes3:42
- 8.Waipahe'e Falls2:37
- 9.Kana'i Aupuni (remix)3:04
- 10.Paper Doll (remix)2:13
- 11.Kaho'olawe2:17
- 12.You Don't Know Me (remix)3:33
- 13.Lei Onaona2:56
- 14.Na Pua Lei 'Ilima3:31
- 15.Kainoa (remix)2:26
- 16.I'll Remember You3:36
Wonderful World2007
- 1.What a Wonderful World4:31
- 2.ʻAmaʻama2:15
- 3.Henehene Kou ʻAka4:18
- 4.Twinkle Twinkle Little Star4:14
- 5.Morning Dew3:43
- 6.E Kuʻu White Sandy Beach3:03
- 7.Kaleohano3:39
- 8.Ka Huila Wai3:34
- 9.ʻŌpae Ē4:22
- 10.Ke Alo O Iesu3:16
- 11.ʻUlili Ē2:35
- 12.A Hawaiian Like Me2:30
Alone in IZ World2001
- 1.Mona Lisa2:01
- 2.Kaleohano3:43
- 3.ʻUlili E2:50
- 4.Hanohano Wale Nō Nā Cowboy and Ka Huila Wai4:17
- 5.Hiʻilawe4:43
- 6.Henehene Kou ʻAka4:24
- 7.Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star3:45
- 8.ʻOpae Ē4:02
- 9.Starting All Over Again5:44
- 10.Over the Rainbow3:32
- 11.Panini Puakea3:07
- 12.Lā ʻElima3:39
- 13.In This Life5:11
- 14.[speech regarding oxygen]1:27
IZ in Concert: The Man and His Music1998
- 1.Ahi Wela4:35
- 2.E Kuʻu Morning Dew3:26
- 3.Kamalani6:03
- 4.Kaleohano6:06
- 5.Margarita4:12
- 6.“This Hawaiian Man” Intro3:09
- 7.Chant1:17
- 8.E Ala Ē2:48
- 9.Hene Hene Kou Aka3:55
- 10.Lover of Mine5:51
- 11.White Sandy Beach4:16
- 12.ʻOpae E6:17
- 13.n Dis Life4:46
- 14.Maui Hawaiian Sup’pa Man4:33
- 15.Hawaiʻi ’785:53
- 16.Hawaiʻi Aloha1:57
N Dis Life1996
- 1.Hiʻilawe4:46
- 2.In This Life4:10
- 3.Waiʻalae2:45
- 4.Starting All Over Again4:01
- 5.Living in a Sovereign Land4:36
- 6.ʻOpae Ē4:10
- 7.Aloha Kuʻu Pua2:31
- 8.Johnny Mahoe4:53
- 9.Lover of Mine2:45
- 10.Yokozuna3:40
- 11.Na Ka Pueo / Keyhole Hula4:41
- 12.The Fly2:28
E Ala Ē1995
- 1.E Ala Ē4:59
- 2.ʻUlili E2:27
- 3.Kaleohano3:39
- 4.Wind Beneath My Wings / He Hawaiʻi Au4:38
- 5.Tengoku Kara Kaminari (Thunder From Heaven)4:06
- 6.Kamalani4:16
- 7.Aloha Ka Manini4:36
- 8.Mauʻi Medley3:29
- 9.Hele on to Kauaʻi2:26
- 10.Kauaʻi Beauty4:40
- 11.Theme From Gilligan's Island3:10
- 12.I Ke Alo O Iesu3:21
- 13.A Hawaiian Like Me2:31
Facing Future1993
- 1.Hawaiʻi ’78 Introduction5:06
- 2.Ka Huila Wai3:21
- 3.ʻAmaʻama2:15
- 4.Panini Pua Kea3:07
- 5.Take Me Home Country Road4:56
- 6.Kuhio Bay3:32
- 7.Ka Pua Uʻi2:56
- 8.White Sandy Beach of Hawaiʻi2:37
- 9.Henehene Kou ʻAka4:22
- 10.La ʻElima3:40
- 11.Pili Me Kaʻu Manu2:33
- 12.Maui Hawaiian Supʻpa Man3:54
- 13.Kaulana Kawaihae4:01
- 14.Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World5:08
- 15.Hawaiʻi ’785:16
Ka ʻAnoʻi1990
- 1.Margarita4:28
- 2.Coney Island Washboard Woman2:11
- 3.Kainoa2:28
- 4.Kanaʻi Aupuni3:06
- 5.I’ll Be There / Warren’s Song4:21
- 6.Men Who Ride Mountains3:22
- 7.Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World4:01
- 8.Hanohano O Cowboy2:46
- 9.Sea of Love3:06
- 10.You Don’t Know Me4:02
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World2021
Tracklist not collected yet.
Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World2006
Tracklist not collected yet.
On the Day You Were Born, Something Pretty Amazing Happened.
Tracklist not collected yet.
Label
- Record label
- Mountain Apple Company
Achievements
- Award
- Echo Pop Award for the Hit of the Year
Groups
- Mākaha Sons of Niʻihauoriginal · 1973–1993
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Bruddah Iz, IZ, Israel "IZ" Kamakawwiwo'ole, Israel 'Iz' Kamakawiwo'Ole, Israel Kamakawiwo' Ole, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Braddah IZ or simply IZ, was a Native Hawaiian musician and singer. He is regarded as one of the greatest musicians from Hawaii and the most successful musician from the state. Along with his ukulele playing and incorporation of other genres, such as jazz and reggae, Kamakawiwoʻole remains influential on Hawaiian music. In 2010, he was named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, who called him "The Voice of Hawaii".
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Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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