Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole (May 20, 1959 - June 26, 1997) or "IZ" as he was affectionately called, is one of the most beloved and fondly remembered Hawaiian Music artists and composers in the Hawaiian islands.
"Israel Kamakawiwoole" was Born in Honolulu Hawaii in 1959 and spent the first five years of his life with his Grandfather, ("Tutu Kane" in Hawaiian) on the
Hawaiian island of Niihau. In 1964 he returned to the
island of Oahu to live with his immediate family and learned the importance of his
Hawaiian lanhuage and heritage. IZ was a native Hawaiian, who upon his death in 1997, at the age of 38, was only the second citizen to receive the honor of having his body lay in state at the capitol building in
Honolulu Hawaii.
Israel IZ Kamakawiwoole is remembered fondly in Hawaii and throughout his worldwide fan base as much more than just a
singer, song writer and composer. IZ sings original
Contemporary Hawaiian Music in the
native Hawaiian tongue and performs his beautiful
ukulele song using his solo
tenor ukulele to accompany the gentle purity of his golden smooth and passionate voice which covers an extraordinary range of vocal octaves.
About author & composer
Michael William AngelOh
Michael AngelOh has lived in the Hawaiian Islands for some 35 years. He published his first internationally best selling Book:
“My NDE beneath the SEA” on his Drowning NDE.
