Knowra Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Israel Kamakawiwoʻole was a Hawaiian singer-songwriter and musician whose ukulele-accompanied medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” became internationally known.
Makaha Sons of Niʻihau : A Hawaiian music group formed in 1969, known for its role in the Hawaiian cultural renaissance. Kamakawiwoʻole first gained prominence as a singer with this group.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World : Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” recorded with ukulele and voice. This is the recording most closely associated with his international recognition.
Hawaiian Renaissance : A movement from the 1960s onward that renewed Hawaiian cultural practices, language, arts, and political identity. The movement formed the cultural setting for Kamakawiwoʻole’s Hawaiian-language music and public identity.
Hawaiian cultural identity : The shared cultural belonging associated with Native Hawaiian history, practices, language, and community. His music made a distinctly Hawaiian identity visible to audiences around the world.
Louis Armstrong : An American jazz trumpeter and singer whose recording of “What a Wonderful World” became a popular standard. His version of “What a Wonderful World” is one of the songs in Kamakawiwoʻole’s signature medley.
Facing Future : A 1993 album by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole featuring his medley of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.” The album introduced the medley that later became widely known.
Hawaiian music : The music of Hawaiʻi, shaped by Indigenous Hawaiian traditions and later influences from across the Pacific and beyond. Kamakawiwoʻole’s songwriting and performance belong to this broad musical tradition.
Tourism in Hawaii : The travel industry centered on visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. The use of his medley in tourism and media connects his legacy to outside portrayals of Hawaiʻi.
Judy Garland : An American actor and singer who introduced “Over the Rainbow” in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Her film performance established the song that Kamakawiwoʻole later made part of his medley.
Ukulele : A small, four-stringed instrument associated with Hawaiian music and derived from Portuguese instruments. Its spare accompaniment gives the famous medley its distinctive sound.
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