Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, affectionately known as «Bruddah Iz», was a Native Hawaiian singer, songwriter, and ukulele player born on May 20, 1959, in Honolulu, Hawaii. He first rose to prominence as a member of the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau before launching a solo career that established him as one of the most beloved voices in Hawaiian music. His warm, unmistakable baritone and gentle ukulele playing carried both traditional Hawaiian songs and English-language material to audiences far beyond the islands.

His best-known recording, a medley of «Somewhere Over the Rainbow» and «What a Wonderful World», became a global phenomenon, widely used in film, television, and advertising, and introduced his music to listeners who had never encountered Hawaiian song before. Beyond that signature track, songs such as «Hawaiʻi ʻ78» reflected his deep commitment to Native Hawaiian identity, land, and sovereignty, themes that ran throughout his work and activism.

Israel Kamakawiwoʻole passed away on June 26, 1997, at the age of 38, following respiratory complications. Despite his relatively short career, his music has had an enduring, worldwide impact, and he remains one of the defining figures of modern Hawaiian music, celebrated both for his artistry and for the pride and advocacy he brought to Native Hawaiian culture.