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Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Data updated on 2025-03-30 08:17:15 UTC
The most popular entertainer in Hawaii until his tragic death in 1997, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole formed the traditional Makaha Sons as a teenager in the mid-'70s, went out on his own in more of a contemporary style by the 1990s, and released four immensely popular recordings before passing away just after the release of 1996's N Dis Life. Born in the Honolulu suburb of Kaimuki, Kamakawiwo'ole later moved to nearby Makaha. In allegiance to his new home, Israel formed the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau with brother Skippy plus Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray and Jerome Koko. The Makaha Sons recorded No Kristo in 1976 and released five more albums during as many years, though Skippy's death of a heart attack in 1982 came as quite a blow to his younger brother. The group soldiered on, and 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.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole decided to begin recording on his own with 1990's Ka 'Ano'i, which became the most popular Hawaiian album of the year. Though he continued his solo career, by 1991 he had recorded with the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau again, and that year's Makaha Bash 3 set still more records in Hawaii, thanks in part to the single "Broken Promise." Another Makaha LP, Ho'oluana, appeared in 1992, though it was the last with Israel. His second solo effort, Facing Future, appeared in 1993, and 1995's E Ala E featured a reunited duet with Skippy, thanks to studio technology. Israel continued to win awards and sell very well with 1996's N Dis Life, but his ballooning weight problem (at times, he weighed over 750 pounds) caused his early death at the age of 38.

After his death, Iz's single "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" charted numerous times, first in 2004 when appearances in various commercials and movies helped it climb to number 12 on Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks chart. In 2010, Europe fell under its spell as its use in commercials drove airplay on radio, and it topped the charts in both France and Switzerland while it reached number six in Austria. As of 2015, the song has sold over five-million digital copies. ~ John Bush, Rovi

Genres

: hawaiian

Total plays

973.2 million
Updated on 2025-03-30

Country

United States

Social media links

Monthly listeners

4,171,581

Followers

614,893

Top Cities

  1. Chile
    47,986 listeners
  2. Brazil
    52,336 listeners
  3. Australia
    51,688 listeners
  4. Mexico
    56,609 listeners
  5. Spain
    40,389 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow
459,683,260 3:32 2001-09-25
Somewhere Over The Rainbow_What A Wonderful World
Somewhere Over The Rainbow_What A Wonderful World
277,597,130 5:08 1993-11-01
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
34,927,670 3:29 2021-07-09
What A Wonderful World
What A Wonderful World
24,992,128 4:31 2007-06-26
White Sandy Beach Of Hawai'i
White Sandy Beach Of Hawai'i
19,861,380 2:37 1993-11-01
Hawai'i '78 Introduction
Hawai'i '78 Introduction
11,924,223 5:06 1993-11-01
Hawai'i '78
Hawai'i '78
11,924,223 5:16 1993-11-01
Sea of Love
Sea of Love
9,260,146 3:03 2008-12-03
Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
7,595,183 4:04 2008-12-03
Take Me Home Country Road
Take Me Home Country Road
5,987,759 4:56 1993-11-01
Hele On To Kauai
Hele On To Kauai
5,137,271 2:26 1995-03-14
Henehene Kou 'Aka
Henehene Kou 'Aka
4,580,468 4:24 2001-09-25
Hawaiian Like Me
Hawaiian Like Me
4,156,573 1:14 2017-10-15
Ka Huila Wai
Ka Huila Wai
4,067,934 3:21 1993-11-01
'Ulili E
'Ulili E
3,994,144 2:50 2001-09-25
Wind Beneath My Wings / He Hawai'i Au
Wind Beneath My Wings / He Hawai'i Au
3,738,695 4:38 1995-03-14
I'll Be There / Warren's Song
I'll Be There / Warren's Song
3,403,896 4:12 2008-12-03
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
3,358,442 2:01 2001-09-25
In This Life
In This Life
3,357,065 5:11 2001-09-25
Kaulana Kawaihae
Kaulana Kawaihae
2,967,801 4:01 1993-11-01
Kana'i Aupuni
Kana'i Aupuni
2,854,793 3:06 2008-12-03
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
2,838,342 3:54 1993-11-01
Ka Pua U'i
Ka Pua U'i
2,633,218 2:56 1993-11-01
You Don't Know Me
You Don't Know Me
2,589,523 3:34 2008-12-03
Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy & Ka Huila Wai
Hanohano Wale No Na Cowboy & Ka Huila Wai
2,165,371 4:17 2001-09-25
Kaleohano
Kaleohano
2,123,581 3:43 2001-09-25
Kainoa
Kainoa
2,113,276 2:28 2008-12-03
Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Ahi Wela / Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
1,997,726 3:45 2001-09-25
La 'Elima
La 'Elima
1,923,911 3:40 1993-11-01
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
1,859,620 4:14 2007-06-26
Hi'ilawe
Hi'ilawe
1,836,503 4:44 1996-12-20
Panini Pua Kea
Panini Pua Kea
1,809,802 3:07 1993-11-01
Henehene Kou 'Aka
Henehene Kou 'Aka
1,755,017 4:22 1993-11-01
Aloha Ka Manini
Aloha Ka Manini
1,709,647 4:36 1995-03-14
'Ama'ama
'Ama'ama
1,693,825 2:15 1993-11-01
Kamalani
Kamalani
1,637,311 4:16 1995-03-14
E Ala E
E Ala E
1,633,648 4:59 1995-03-14
Paper Doll
Paper Doll
1,549,424 2:15 2008-12-03
White Sandy Beach
White Sandy Beach
1,541,677 3:03 2007-06-26
Kuhio Bay
Kuhio Bay
1,538,641 3:32 1993-11-01
Opae E
Opae E
1,525,797 4:02 2001-09-25
Panini Pukea
Panini Pukea
1,524,854 3:07 2001-09-25
Hi'ilawe
Hi'ilawe
1,401,134 4:43 2001-09-25
Hawai'i Aloha
Hawai'i Aloha
1,306,804 1:57 1998-10-01
Starting All Over Again
Starting All Over Again
1,284,418 5:44 2001-09-25
E Ku'u Morning Dew
E Ku'u Morning Dew
1,162,307 3:43 2007-06-26
Maui Medley
Maui Medley
1,152,750 3:29 1995-03-14
'Opae E
'Opae E
1,069,604 4:10 1996-12-20
Pili Me Ka'u Manu
Pili Me Ka'u Manu
1,036,863 2:33 1993-11-01
La Elima
La Elima
1,031,713 3:39 2001-09-25
Margarita
Margarita
997,953 4:12 1998-10-01
I Ke Alo O Iesu
I Ke Alo O Iesu
947,610 3:16 2007-06-26
Na Ka Pueo (Keyhole Hula)
Na Ka Pueo (Keyhole Hula)
872,297 4:40 1996-12-20
Lover Of Mine
Lover Of Mine
793,004 5:51 1998-10-01
Henehene Kou 'Aka
Henehene Kou 'Aka
763,594 4:18 2007-06-26
Wai'alae
Wai'alae
719,122 2:43 1996-12-20
AMA AMA
AMA AMA
711,935 2:15 2007-06-26
A Hawaiian Like Me
A Hawaiian Like Me
703,499 2:30 2007-06-26
Tengoku Kara Kaminari (Thunder From Heaven)
Tengoku Kara Kaminari (Thunder From Heaven)
699,334 4:06 1995-03-14
N Dis Life
N Dis Life
688,994 4:46 1998-10-01
Kauai Beauty
Kauai Beauty
671,327 4:40 1995-03-14
Living In A Sovereign Land
Living In A Sovereign Land
651,374 4:38 1996-12-20
Ahi Wela
Ahi Wela
621,295 4:35 1998-10-01
Johnny Mahoe
Johnny Mahoe
582,083 4:55 1996-12-20
Kaleohano
Kaleohano
550,525 3:39 2007-06-26
The Fly
The Fly
547,207 2:28 1996-12-20
Chant
Chant
507,645 1:17 1998-10-01
Theme From Gilligan's Island
Theme From Gilligan's Island
471,188 3:10 1995-03-14
Yokozuna
Yokozuna
446,849 3:40 1996-12-20
Opae E
Opae E
438,139 4:22 2007-06-26
Ulili E
Ulili E
433,510 2:27 1995-03-14
Ulili E
Ulili E
408,195 2:35 2007-06-26
In This Life
In This Life
396,299 4:09 1996-12-20
Ka Huila Wai
Ka Huila Wai
392,208 3:34 2007-06-26
Kaleohano
Kaleohano
377,421 3:39 1995-03-14
A Hawaiian Like Me
A Hawaiian Like Me
294,287 2:31 1995-03-14
Hene Hene Kou Aka
Hene Hene Kou Aka
224,842 3:55 1998-10-01
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
Maui Hawaiian Sup'pa Man
221,578 4:33 1998-10-01
White Sandy Beach
White Sandy Beach
219,542 4:16 1998-10-01
Starting All Over Again
Starting All Over Again
216,664 3:60 1996-12-20
Hawai'i '78
Hawai'i '78
214,701 5:53 1998-10-01
E Ku'u Morning Dew
E Ku'u Morning Dew
206,802 3:26 1998-10-01
Kamalani
Kamalani
205,144 6:03 1998-10-01
Aloha Ku'u Pua
Aloha Ku'u Pua
199,277 2:30 1996-12-20
Kaleohano
Kaleohano
198,794 6:06 1998-10-01
Lover Of Mine
Lover Of Mine
195,927 2:45 1996-12-20
I Ke Alo O Iesu
I Ke Alo O Iesu
188,838 3:21 1995-03-14
E Ala E
E Ala E
161,974 2:48 1998-10-01
Opae E
Opae E
126,046 6:17 1998-10-01
This Hawaiian Man Intro
This Hawaiian Man Intro
114,515 3:09 1998-10-01
Hawaiian Sunrise
Hawaiian Sunrise
6,939 4:01 2019-08-02

New releases

Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
2021-07-09
[WM Germany]
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
2021-07-09
[Columbia/B1 Recordings]
Somewhere Over the Rainbow The Best of Israel Kamakawiwo`ole
Somewhere Over the Rainbow The Best of Israel Kamakawiwo`ole
2017-10-15
[Big Boy Records]
Unforgettable
Unforgettable
2008-12-03
[Poki Records]
Wonderful World
Wonderful World
2007-06-26
[Big Boy Records]
Alone In Iz World
Alone In Iz World
2001-09-25
[Big Boy Records]
Iz In Concert
Iz In Concert
1998-10-01
[Big Boy Records]
N Dis Life
N Dis Life
1996-12-20
[Big Boy Records]
E Ala E
E Ala E
1995-03-14
[Big Boy Records]
Facing Future
Facing Future
1993-11-01
[Big Boy Records]