Biography
Until his death in 1997, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole stood as Hawaii's most beloved entertainer. He founded the traditional Makaha Sons while still a teenager during the mid-1970s, then shifted toward a contemporary solo approach in the 1990s and issued four hugely successful albums before his passing shortly after the appearance of N Dis Life in 1996. Born in Honolulu's Kaimuki neighborhood, he later relocated to the nearby community of Makaha. There he assembled the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau alongside his brother Skippy and fellow musicians Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko. The ensemble cut No Kristo in 1976 and followed with five additional albums over the next five years, though Skippy's fatal heart attack in 1982 dealt a severe blow to his younger sibling. The remaining members persisted and rose to prominence as Hawaii's leading traditional act through the breakthrough releases Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha in 1984 and its successor Ho'ola in 1986.
Deciding to pursue an independent path, Kamakawiwo'ole launched his solo career with Ka 'Ano'i in 1990, which became that year's top-selling Hawaiian album. Although he maintained his solo work, he rejoined the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau for 1991's Makaha Bash 3, another record-setting Hawaiian release propelled in part by the single "Broken Promise." The group issued one further album, Ho'oluana, in 1992 before Israel departed permanently. His second solo project, Facing Future, arrived in 1993, while 1995's E Ala E included a technologically enabled duet with Skippy. Kamakawiwo'ole continued collecting honors and strong sales with N Dis Life in 1996, yet his chronic weight issues, which at times exceeded 750 pounds, led to his death at age 38.
Following his passing, the single "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" reentered the charts on multiple occasions. In 2004 it reached number 12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks list after featuring in several commercials and films. European audiences embraced it in 2010 when radio airplay spurred by advertisements propelled the track to number one in both France and Switzerland and number six in Austria. By 2015 the recording had moved more than five million digital copies.
Deciding to pursue an independent path, Kamakawiwo'ole launched his solo career with Ka 'Ano'i in 1990, which became that year's top-selling Hawaiian album. Although he maintained his solo work, he rejoined the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau for 1991's Makaha Bash 3, another record-setting Hawaiian release propelled in part by the single "Broken Promise." The group issued one further album, Ho'oluana, in 1992 before Israel departed permanently. His second solo project, Facing Future, arrived in 1993, while 1995's E Ala E included a technologically enabled duet with Skippy. Kamakawiwo'ole continued collecting honors and strong sales with N Dis Life in 1996, yet his chronic weight issues, which at times exceeded 750 pounds, led to his death at age 38.
Following his passing, the single "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" reentered the charts on multiple occasions. In 2004 it reached number 12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks list after featuring in several commercials and films. European audiences embraced it in 2010 when radio airplay spurred by advertisements propelled the track to number one in both France and Switzerland and number six in Austria. By 2015 the recording had moved more than five million digital copies.
Albums
Singles
