Here's why a Google Doodle is celebrating Hawaiin musician Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole today

By Helen Johnson
Published 20th May 2020, 11:10 BST
Updated 20th May 2020, 11:10 BST
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a native Hawaiian musician, singer-lyricist, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist (Photo: Google)Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a native Hawaiian musician, singer-lyricist, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist (Photo: Google)
Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a native Hawaiian musician, singer-lyricist, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist (Photo: Google)

Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, also called Bruddah Iz or IZ, was a native Hawaiian musician, singer-lyricist, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist.

He became known outside Hawaii when his album, Facing Future, was released in 1993, and his medley of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World’ was featured on numerous TV programmes, commercials and films.

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Today, on what would have been his 61st birthday, Google Doodle honours Kamakawiwoʻole, so here’s everything you need to know about him.

Who was Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole?

Kamakawiwoʻole was born on 20 May 1959 and raised in the community of Kaimuki, where his parents had met and married.

He began playing music with his older brother Skippy and cousin Allen Thornton at the age of 11, having been exposed to the music of Hawaiian entertainers of the time, including Peter Moon, Palani Vaughn and Don Ho.

These entertainers would frequently visit the places where Kamakawiwoʻole's parents worked.