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A Tribute to Israel Kamakawiwoole

The life story of legendary Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

BORN: May 20, 1959
DIED: June 26, 1997
FATHER: Henry KaleiAloha Naniwa Kamakwiwo`ole Jr. (Tiny)
MOTHER: Evangeline Leinani Kamakawiwo`ole (Keale)
UNCLE: Moe Keale (legendary in Hawaiian music)
OLDER BROTHER: Skippy Kamakwiwo`ole
SISTER: ?
DAUGHTER: ?
CHILDHOOD: 1st 10 yaers in the Palolo Valley on Oahu
MOVED TO: Makaha on Oahu
STARTED PLAYING MUSIC WITH SKIPPY: at age 11
FIRST BREAK: playing on the Jerry Lewis Telethon

  • Born on May 20, 1959

  • He grew up in Kaimuki, mostly at 9th and Kalua Streets. In his early teens the family moved to Makaha, where IZ and his brother Skippy formed the Makaha Sons of Niihau with Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and Jerome Koko.

  • 1982 - IZ's brother Skippy Kamakawiwo'ole died of a heart attack at age 28.

  • What year? - IZ married his childhood sweetheart Marlene, and they have a daughter who the name Ceslieanne "Wehi".

  • 1985 - Makaha Sons win best traditional album and group of the year at the Hoku Awards

  • 1987 - Makaha Sons album "Hoala" wins Haku Mele, Traditional Hawaiian Album, and Group of the year Hoku Awards

  • 1991 - IZ's first album "Ka'Ano'i" wins Hoku award for contemporary album of the year and male vocalist of the year.

  • 1992 - Makaha Sons "Makaha Bash 3' wins Group of the Year and Engineering Hoku awards (IZ performed on that album). The song "Broken Promise", recorded by Roland Cazimero, Henry Kapono, and Cyril Pahinui and IZ won single of the year.

    1993 - Ho'oluana" by the Makaha Sons won Hoku Awards for Engineering, Haku Mele, Traditional Hawaiian Album of the Year, Group of the Year, and Album of the Year. This was the last album IZ recorded witht the Sons of Niihau. At this time IZ weighed more then 750 pounds, making it difficult for him to tour with the group

    1993 - Facing Fugure: The first solo album recorded by IZ? after 17 years of performing with the Makaha Sons. The album was a more traditional album, but at the Hoku Awards it was overshadowed by Hapa's strong debut album.

    1994 - IZ was voted favorite entertainer of the year by HARA and the public. Krash Kealoha suggested the public vote category.

    1995 - IZ's album "E ala E" IZ sing's with his dead brother Skippy through studio magic, which allowed them to sing the title song together. IZ's EKG reading forms part of the album art.

    1996 - At 1996 Hoku Awards Ceremony IZ was singing on stage when he was joined by his ex-bandmates, the Makaha Sons.

    1997 - Izzy's album "N Dis Life" won Album of the Year, Male Vocalist, Island Contemporary Album, and the Graphics Award. He was also voted favorite Hawaiian Entertainer by the public. IZ's manager John de Mello of Apple Mountain and co-producer Ho'omalia accepted the award for hospitalized IZ.

  • Dropped out of Waianae High School, but he wanted to hire a tutor and get his GED.

  • Singer, composer, musician, produced albums. At one time he had a problem with drugs, but he said he had kicked that habit.

  • Sang with the Son's of Niihau until 1993

  • 1993 - became a solo singer

  • 1994 - singer of the year at the Na Hoku Hanohano awards

  • 1996 - May reunion concert with three partners from the Makaha Sons on Niihau

  • Died on June 26, 1997 at 12:18 a.m. at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where he had been hospitalized for respiratory problems and other weight related illnesses. He was survived by his wife Marlene and his daughter Ceslieanne "Wehi" Kamakawiwo'ole, who was 14 at the time, and his sister Lydia, who is married to Kauakahi (who is that?). The state of Hawaii ordered flags flown at half mast on the day of his funeral, and more then 20,000 people attended a memorial held in the State Capitol Rotunda.

  • IZ was 6' 2" tall, but he had a wieght problem all of his life. At his heaviest he weighed more then 750 pounds. In 1995 he vowed to shed 360 pounds. At one point in his career he required a forklift to get him on stage. Walking was very difficult for him and he relied on an auxiliary oxygen to breathe. He was hospitalized briefly in 1996

  • IZ's brother Skippy died at age 28 in 1982. At the time of his death, IZ was being managed by Jon de Mello of the Mountain Apple recording company.

    See also:
  • More About Israel Kamakawiwoole
  • Hawaiian Music Artists A to Z






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