Before my arrival in Kauai this week, fellow music lover, friend, (and D1 Supervisor candidate) Eric Mar, turned me on to the song "E Ala E", by "IZ", aka Israel Ka"ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole, one of Hawaii's greatest musical geniuses. The 1995 album featured the political title song "E Ala E" and the moving "Kaleohano". As his career progressed, IZ became known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life. IZ became famous outside Hawaii when his album "Facing Future" was released in 1993 with his medley of "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World", which was subsequently featured in several films, television programs, and commercials.Kamakawiwo'ole was nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" by his admirers. He was described as always cheerful and positive, and he was best known for his love of the land and of the people of Hawaii. Through his consummate ukulele playing and incorporation of other idioms (such as jazz and reggae), IZ remains one of the major influences in Hawaiian music over the last 15 years.
Israel Ka"ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole was born on May 20, 1959 at Kuakini Hospital in Honolulu to Henry Kaleialoha Naniwa Kamakawiwo'ole, Jr. and Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo'ole. Wiwo'ole means courage or courageous in the Hawai'ian language. Kamaka may come from kanaka, which means man. IZ was raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married. He began playing music with his older brother Skippy at the age of 11, being privy to the music of the great Hawaiian entertainers of the time such as the likes of Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn, and Don Ho, who frequented the establishment where his parents worked.
In his early teens, his family moved to Makaha, Hawaii. There, he met Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. Together with his brother Skippy, they formed the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. From 1976 throughout the 1980s, the Hawaiian contemporary band gained in popularity as they toured Hawai"i and the continental United States and released 15 successful albums.
Sadly, in 1982, IZ's brother Skippy Kamakawiwo'ole died of a heart attack. In that same year, IZ married his childhood sweetheart Marlene and soon after had a daughter who they named Ceslieanne "Wehi".
IZ formed the musical group Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau with brother Skippy plus Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. They recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released five more albums, including the similarly titled Na Mele Henoheno Na Makahiki Mui, helu ‘ekahi and Na Mele Henoheno Na Makahiki Mui, helu ‘elua, which included the famous Hawaiian independence anthem "Hawaii'78", before Skippy's death in 1982. The group became Hawaii's most popular traditional group with breakout albums like 1984's Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha and its follow-up, 1986's Ho'ola. IZs last recorded album with the group was 1991's Ho'oluana. It remains the group's top-selling CD to this day.
In 1990, IZ released his first solo album Ka"anoi, which won him awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Facing Future was released in 1993. Considered his best album by many, it featured his most popular song, the medley "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World", along with "Hawaii 78", "White Sandy Beach of Hawaii", "Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man", and "Kaulana Kawaihae". Facing Future debuted at #25 on Billboard Magazine's Top Pop Catalogue chart. On October 26, 2005, "Facing Future" became Hawaii'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" would be released as a single.
In 1994, Iz was voted favorite entertainer of the year by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). "N Dis Life" (1996) featured "In This Life" and "Starting All Over Again". As his career progressed, IZ was known for promoting Hawaiian rights and Hawaiian independence, both through his music (whose lyrics often stated the case for independence directly) and through his life.
In 1997, IZ was again honored by HARA at the Annual Na Hoku 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.
Throughout the later part of his life, IZ's obesity began to take it's toll and at one point he weighed as much as 758 pounds on his 6 feet 2 inches frame. He endured several hospitalizations and on June 26, 1997, IZ died of weight-related respiratory illness, at the age of 38.
The Hawaii State Flag flew at half-staff on July 10, 1997, the day of IZ's funeral and his koa wood coffin lay in state at the Capitol building in Honolulu. He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be accorded this honor (the other two were Governor John A. Burns and Senator Spark Matsunaga) and the only non-politician. Over 10,000 people attended his funeral. Thousands of fans gathered and cheered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at M'kua Beach on July 12, 1997.
On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to IZ as a 200-pound bronze bust of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on O'ahu. The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwo'ole, and sculptor Jan-Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony.
"E Ala E" has become one of my all time favorite IZ tunes.
Thanks Eric.
