Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwoʻole has been the focus of today’s Google Doodle but what is his story?
Even if you don’t immediately recognise Israel’s name, you will know his gorgeous medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World.
The cover version of these songs has gone on to be used in countless films and television series such as ER, Scrubs, Glee, Lost, and Life on Mars.
In his home island state of Hawaii, Israel is especially revered, often being dubbed the “voice of Hawaii”.
Today’s animated Google Doodle is part of Asian Pacific American Heritage month and has honoured Israel and his native Hawaiian roots.
Israel was raised in the community of Kaimuki, after being born in Honolulu in 1959.
He started playing music at the age of 11 with his brother Skippy and cousin Allen Thornton, with all who heard him being astounded by his beautiful voice.
The budding singer had been inspired by the sounds of singers such as Peter Moon and Palani Vaugh.
Studying at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, he later moved to Makaha and soon formed the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau with his brother and a group of friends.
They toured the Hawaiian islands and mainland US and released fifteen albums with great success, with Israel keen to keep native traditional styles in their music, which many saw as part of the Hawaiian Renaissance which saw a resurgence in the island’s culture.
He was always an advocate of Hawaiian independence and disliked how the tourism industry treated the native population of the islands.
The band went on to release four more albums from 1976 that Israel was part of.
Tragically, Israel’s brother Skippy died at the age of 28 in 1982 from a heart attack that was related to his obesity.
Israel married childhood love Marlene in the same year, going on to have daughter Ceslieanne “Wehi” in the next year.
He then went on to launch a successful solo career, winning financial, critical, and awards success.
His album 1993 album Facing Future included his famous medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World, which found worldwide popularity and acclaim.
According to NPR, his colleague and producer Jon de Mello said of Israel’s legendary cover: “There’s been a bunch of articles written about ‘Over the Rainbow’.
“He gets the lyrics wrong, he changes the melody. If you sat there with a book and a score card, you could count the mistakes or you could listen to the song and smile.”
The album went platinum in the US, selling over a million copies, going on to become the biggest-selling Hawaiian album of all-time.
Sadly, like Skippy, Israel also suffered from obesity.
At one stage in his life, Israel weighed 54 st 1 lb (343 kg) and was classed as hyper-obese due to his large Body Mass Index.
His final years were marred with health issues caused by his obesity, facing respiratory and heart issues which resulted in emergency hospitalisation on a number of occasions.
He passed away at the age of 38 in 1997 at a hospital in Honolulu.
After his death, Skippy’s widow told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that the brothers were now reunited.
She said: “They love each other, of course. And they argue, but when push comes to shove, they always stand together as one — as any other brothers would.
On the day of his funeral, 10,000 people attended the service and the Hawaiian flag flew at half mast.
When his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach, thousands attended the event and highways in the country saw many more honk their car horns in commemoration.
A new music video of the Over the Rainbow cover was released with emotional footage from the funeral, which as of last month has accrued 900 million views on YouTube.
On May 19, 2020, Google have honoured what would have been Israel’s 61st birthday with a cartoon video of Israel’s life with his beloved cover of the classic Wizard of Oz song.
