Hawaii is home to a number of renowned music institutions in several fields. The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra is an important part of the state's musical history, and is the oldest orchestra in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, founded in 1900. The Orchestra has collaborated with other local institutions, like the Hawaii Opera Theatre and the Oahu Choral Society, which sponsors the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and the Honolulu Chamber Choir. Hawaiian folk music includes several varieties of chanting (mele) and music meant for highly ritualized dance (hula). Traditional Hawaiian music and dance was functional, used to express praise, communicate genealogy and mythology, and accompany games, festivals and other secular events. The Hawaiian language has no word that translates precisely as music, but a diverse vocabulary exists to describe rhythms, instruments, styles and elements of voice production. Hawaiian folk music is simple in melody and rhythm, but is "complex and rich" in the "poetry, accompanying mimetic dance (hula), and subtleties of vocal styles... even in the attenuated forms in which they survive today".

Hawaii's Statehood Day commemorates Hawaii's admission as a state on August 21, 1959. In 1898 the United States annexed Hawaii, which was declared as a necessary navy base for the conduct of the Spanish-American War. The United States interests coveted the islands for some time. During World War II, Oahu served as the command post for the US operations in the Pacific. Large portions of Hawaii were turned over for the US military bases. After the war, two-thirds of the residents favored statehood.

However, because of the many ethnicities present, there was resistance to Hawaii's statehood from the segregated southern states. A primary election took place in Hawaii on June 27, 1959, and various statehood propositions received many votes on that day. Following the certification of the election results, President Eisenhower signed a proclamation on August 21, 1959, declaring Hawaii to be the 50th state. This was known as Admission Day until 2001 and is now known as "Hawaii Statehood Day".

Since few Hawaiian musicians even read music each Hawaiian Song lyrics had to be translated and hand printed over an extended period of time. Early Hawaiian Music Artists and Hawaiian Music composers simply listened, felt and then played their music by and from the heart. Many of the Hawaiian Music lyrics and Hawaiian Songs presented here are available to purchase on Hawaiian Music DVD Video formats, the most pospular being, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow Song" as sung by the now famous Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

A more detailed chronology of the "Life of IZ" can be found featured on the site: Biography of the Man and his Music including an overview of the Hawaiian artists significant milestones and artistic accomplishments all the way up to his untimely death at the age of 38 in 1997. A timelined chronological biography of the life of "IZ" may be accessed at the "Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Biography Highlights" web site. Also be sure to visit the "IZ Memorial Tribute" web site. For the Hawaiian Music Song Lyrics to many of IZ's Hawaiian songs including "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" visit our "Hawaiian Music Song Lyrics Directory". Scroll down for a detailed biography of "Israel Kamakawiwo'ole" and related Hawaiian Music links.