Google Celebrates Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's 61st Birthday
In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the U.S., today’s Doodle celebrates the 61st birthday of native Hawaiian `ukulele player, singer-songwriter, and activist Israel “IZ™” Kamakawiwo`ole, who is perhaps best known for touching the world with his beloved rendition of “Over the Rainbow” and forever changing the face of Hawaiian music. Through his joyful songs and lifelong advocacy for the islands’ values and culture, Kamakawiwo`ole has been widely referred to as the “Voice of Hawai`i.”
Israel Ka`ano`i Kamakawiwo`ole was born on this day in 1959 in a suburb of Honolulu, Hawai`i and raised in a native islander family with a shared love of Hawaiian music. At ten years old, he was often found holding his `ukulele against his chest. In his teens, Israel, his brother, and three friends dug deep into the traditional sounds of the islands. Together, they achieved huge popularity across fifteen albums.
Late one night in 1988, Israel sat down in a Honolulu studio, closed his eyes, and in a single take, sang an emotional `ukulele-backed version of the classic song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Little did he know, this recording—which serves as the soundtrack of today`s video Doodle—was destined to become an international phenomenon.
Thank you, Israel, for providing the soundtrack for Hawai`i and for continuing to move hearts around the world through your music.
Special thanks to the family of Israel Kamakawiwo`ole for their partnership on this project. Below, they share their thoughts on his legacy.
The Kamakawiwo`ole `Ohana (family) remains overwhelmed by the worldwide reach of Israel’s music and the reaction of everyone who hears his voice, a voice that instantly touches your heart. Having Google create a Doodle for his 61st birthday gives us all reason to again celebrate his life and impact on millions worldwide.
Israel’s musical legacy includes critically acclaimed Gold and Platinum recordings which are recognized and loved throughout the world. More important to us and the greater `ohana of Hawaiians, is the spotlight that his success has brought to Hawai`i, his Hawaiian heritage, and, most of all, the Hawaiian people.
Born in 1959, the same year that Hawai`i became the 50th State, Israel grew up on O`ahu and was known to all as a rascal. He was always holding or playing his `ukulele. His roots were on the island of Ni`ihau, which is privately owned and remains the only island with a 100% Hawaiian population and cannot be visited without an invitation from a resident. Israel spent his summers there with grandparents learning the life lessons of the early Hawaiians who practiced the ancient ways.
In his late teens, he and his brother Skippy formed the Makaha Sons of Ni`ihau, a contemporary Hawaiian musical group at the height of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance. Their music resonated with Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart, and they won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian music equivalent of a Grammy) year after year. Israel broke out on his own in 1993 (after releasing two solo albums while still performing with the group), and the rest is history. He recorded three solo CDs between 1993 and his death in 1997, which have allowed for four posthumous releases.
His iconic version of “Over the Rainbow” has been licensed in dozens of hit feature films, TV shows, commercial advertising, and remains on various Billboard charts to this day.
Combine an iconic song with a distinctive and unique artist, and you get an international hit—one that continues to delight and spread across the world.
The Kamakawiwo`ole family hopes that this Birthday Doodle will spread more aloha around the world.
Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono
(“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”)
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