| Israel Kamakawiwo'ole |
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Israel Kamakawiwi'ole was one of the most
beloved singer songwriter musician
philosophers in Hawaii's history.
Despite his size, clearly out of control in
later years eventually leading to his death,
he was a true legend and icon of Hawaiian
music.
His songs inspired people of all ages, and
many kids headed for trouble looked to
Brother Iz as role model.
Kamakawiwi'ole did have some runins as a
youth, which made his later example all the
more meaningful, not just for young, but
people in all walks of life and ages.
One of his most inspirational messages was
"When you think no can, can." Which was his
way of saying just when things seem toughest,
there is still hope if you hold on and have
faith.
His body rested in state in the Hawaii's
Capital Building, one of, if not the only
Hawaiian musician ever so honored.
Tags : Hawaii Honolulu Oahu culture travel "local style" vacation Israel Kamakawiwo'ole music "hawaiian music" hero Iz jghaw |
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Affichage : 19745
Durée : 139 s |
| Bruddah IZ ~ Hawai'i Aloha |
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"We shall extend and display respect to all
others which reflects our own appreciation of
humanity. We shall carry our pride quietly,
neither boasting of ourselves nor speaking
badly of others - often a dishonest method of
self-praise. Yet we must be unashamed of our
principles and honest in our criticisms."
~ Hawaiian Code of Conduct
Bruddah Iz ~ Israel Kamakawiwi'ole ~ Hawai'i
Aloha.
Tags : Hawaii Iz Israel Kamakawiwi'ole Over The Rainbow |
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Affichage : 979763
Durée : 294 s |
| Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ~ Somewhere over the Rainbow HQ |
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Music Video Tribute
be sure to watch Iz tribute 'Hawaiian Like
Me'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6JG9lzdGN0
Israel "Iz" Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole (May
20, 1959 -- June 26, 1997) (pronounced
[ka-maka-vi-vo-ole]) was an Hawaiian
musician.
He 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.
From childhood, his family called Israel by
his Hawaiian middle name, Kaʻanoʻi, the
"beloved one". His name would later become
the title name of his first solo album,
Kaʻanoʻi, and also foretells the greatness
of this "cherished one". It is interesting to
note here that part of his name, anoʻi, when
simplified to noʻi may be a contraction of
the Hawaiian word, nohi. Nohi means
"bright-colored, vivid, as the rainbow" (see
Hawaiian Dictionary, Pukui and Elbert). Nohi,
rainbow, beloved one, and cherished one are
powerful symbols in his life. Iz's recording
of the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"
would become renowned throughout the world
and continues to garner high acclaim. The
song has come to be known as Izʻs "signature
song", the most renowned of all his songs.
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 Hawaiʻi. 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's recording of "Over the Rainbow/What
a Wonderful World" reached #12 on Billboard's
Hot Digital Tracks chart the week of 1/31/04
(for the survey week ending 1/18/04),
possibly due to its use in the Adam Sandler
film 50 First Dates, and the Brad Pitt film
Meet Joe Black.
In 2006, a version of "Somewhere Over the
Rainbow", in an arrangement based on Iz', was
performed by The Worthless Peons in "My Way
Home", the 100th episode of Scrubs, over the
closing montage. A recording of the same song
by Iz was used in the closing scenes of the
final episode of Life on Mars (TV Series). It
is also a featured song in the movie Finding
Forrester. In 2002, the song was used to
powerful effect in the closing scenes of
Anthony Edwards' last appearance in ER as Dr.
Mark Greene, in the episode "On the Beach".
On week 8 of American Idol (season 7), Jason
Castro performed his own version of this song
except that he left out the "What a Wonderful
World" line, but still gave credit to Israel
for the song.
DEATH:
Throughout the later part of his life, Iz was
obese and at one point carried 758 pounds
(344 kg) on his 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 m)
frame. He endured several hospitalizations
and died of weight-related respiratory
illness on June 26, 1997 at 12:18 am at the
age of 38.
The Hawaiʻi State Flag flew at half-staff on
July 10, 1997, the day of Iz's funeral. 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 Mākua 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.
Tags : Israel Kamakawiwo'ole somewhere over the rainbow |
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Affichage : 2238095
Durée : 219 s |
| IZ - Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World |
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Mahalo nui loa everyone for all your awesome
comments and your continued visits. And
thanks especially to Bruddah IZ. This song
always gives me chicken skin (goosebumps) fo
shua. He was a moke with a big heart. A hui
hou bruddah!
A tribute to Bruddah IZ - Israel
Kamakawiwo'ole, a favorite son of Hawaii
whose music brought joy to millions the world
over. While IZ had recorded a version of
"Over The Rainbow", this version is unique in
that it features a medley of both "Over The
Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World." IZ
served as a goodwill ambassador for the
native people of Hawaii and will remain in
our hearts forever. Aloha and Mahalo!
P.S. I apologize for the short audio dropouts
at the very beginning. It occurred during
uploading. Unfortunately, to re-upload would
mean deleting all of your wonderful comments
and starting over again. I won't let it
happen. Perhaps I'll upload a 2nd version of
this.
I've received hundreds of inquiries about
getting a MP3 of this song. I strongly
recommend buying a CD from Mountain Apple
Records, Bruddah IZ's label in Honolulu.
Support Hawaii's #1 record label. It can be
ordered online at
www.mountainapplecompany.com
Tags : IZ Israel Kamakawiwo'ole hawaii hawaiian tribute over the rainbow Bruddah |
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Affichage : 3227739
Durée : 286 s |
| Over The Rainbow |
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This version of the song is performed by
Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole in tribute to one
of Hawaii's other musicians, Gabby Pahinui.
Iz died of weight related respiratory illness
on June 26, 1997.
Tags : Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole |
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Affichage : 2495029
Durée : 304 s |
| Bruddah Iz ~ White Sandy Beach |
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Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Starfish
Ka Hôkû Kai
[kah HOH' KOO' kai]
Once upon a time, there was a wise kupuna
(elder),
who went to the sea to contemplate.
One day, while walking along the shore,
the kupuna looked down the beach,
and saw a gracefully dancing
human figure.
The kupuna wondered out loud,
"Who would so joyfully greet this day with
hula?"
and began to walk faster to catch up.
Getting closer,
the kupuna saw that the dancer was a keiki
(child),
who was not dancing at all.
The keiki was reaching down to the sand to
pick up something,
and was very gently throwing it into the sea.
The kupuna called out to the keiki,
"Aloha! What are you doing?"
The keiki paused, looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish into the sea."
Surprised, the kupuna sputtered,
"I...I guess I should have asked,
WHY are you throwing starfish into the sea?"
The keiki smiled brightly, pointed upward
and,
with exquisite simplicity, replied,
"The sun is up, the tide is going out.
If I don't throw them in, they will die."
"But, don't you realize, " asked the kupuna,
"that there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it?
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The keiki listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish,
threw it gently into the sea, just beyond the
breaking waves,
and exuberantly declared,
"It made a difference for that one."
Tags : hawaii beach Iz Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Over The Rainbow |
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Affichage : 687828
Durée : 158 s |
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