The Life & Early Death Of Singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole 

Rest in peace IZ!

I never tire of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, one of the best songs ever.

My BFF told her nephew that is she was ever in the hospital to play this beautiful song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", to her. She went into the hospital with a stroke on Nov 8, 2019 and he kept his vow to her and played this song for her. She passed on Nov 13, 2019. RIP, friend - I just know we will see each other again one day. I miss you so very much. 💔😢

The voice of an angel! RIP!

I love his singing. Just blew me away when I first listened to him. He has a good aura about him. I would have loved to have known him.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow was first recorded by Judy Garland in 1939 for "The Wizard of Oz",and What a Wonderful World was was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released in 1967. These two songs make up the beautiful mash-up that Israel recorded.

I love how this man sang his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It's beautiful how he sang it and soothing to my heart. It makes me cry that he passed away at such an early age. 😥❤️❤️

My mom literally played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” during her wedding! Rest in Peace IZ, you are the legend!

He will be remembered, RIP Iz.

What a gift this man was and always Iz. Love to his family

I love him so much! Thank you Israel!

Just showed my 14 year old daughter the video of his for somewhere over the rainbow and we literally sobbed together. Thanks for that, because we needed that ❤

His rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow is beautiful. Great informational video.

Pure, gentle music. He brings a smile to my face periodically when weather reminds me of rainbows, then I feel so sad he's not here singing.

RIP IZ. The fact that his music was discovered after his death was a gift to all of us.

Iz inspired me to pick up the ukulele 10 years ago. It's been my constant companion ever since. ♥️🌸

Shoutout to the narrator! Those Hawaiian names roll off your tongue like butta!

I will think of him whenever I see a rainbow ❤🌈

Morbid obesity kills. Kamakawiwoʻole struggled with obesity throughout his life, at one point weighing 757 pounds (343 kg) while standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall. He endured several hospitalizations because of his weight. With chronic medical problems including respiratory and cardiac issues, Kamakawiwoʻole died at the age of 38 in the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu at 12:18 a.m. on June 26, 1997, from respiratory failure. His tragic death could have been prevented.

I could listen to Iz all day. What a beautiful voice.

It’s a beautiful piece you did on Iz The narration and information you had on him was incredible! Iz you may be gone but you will never be forgotten. Thank you for your beautiful music! R I P👍🏼🤩🫡❤️

My favorite Iz song is The White Sandy Beach! My wife and I got to spend some time at Waikiki. I lost her to cancer 2 and a half years ago! I also love Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

So appreciate your story. Loved Iz… so glad he was honored

Ox was an angel, his voice was incredible could listen to it all day, loved his final send off by his people, so beautiful 😿💔😿🤗🥰

Such a beautiful voice! ❤❤❤

What a fantastic soul. Lotta love, Iz ❤

Thanks for her story.

I’m sitting here watching my hometown of Lahaina burn to the ground today. I needed to see this 💔💔💔💔

Now I'm sitting here singing as his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow plays in my head. He did have a beautiful voice and musical style.

Iz was a gentle, loving spirit, his voice and song reflect his beauty, caring and love for others, his soft voice pulls you in, you feel like you are floating, flying, soaring, and landing easy, he shared heaven with everyone, his faith, his belief, who could deny God after hearing this Child of God sing? I wonder if Iz's daughter sings now?

I love this mini-docu. I didn't know all of his history. Such a beautiful and passionate voice. ❤

A Gift from God.

A man who was so kind to the world even when it wasn't kind to him. Rest In Peace.

Amazing video and awesome artist

He is and all ways will be a legend love him❤

The details of the strumming technique were fascinating. Great video!

Rest in paradise Israel ❤

I learned just from listening and watching

RIP BRADDAH IZ Hes not dead He's somewhere over the rainbow

Interesting and informative.

RIP,Israel.😞

Happy .Blessed. ❤

All these place are temporary, summarize everything in single line ...deep very deep thought. Deeply wish one day I will tribute to you...record ur song ''over the rainbow'' ❤🧡💛

I'll give you a 👍 for pronouncing his surname correctly. 😂

wonderful! loved your pronunciation of all those hard words. excellent

He needed a forklift to get off the stage .... damn

RIP IZ🙏🕊️

so young

I was heading to HI once, he and his entourage, about ten people sat in the row in front of me on the wide body jet. He was in front of my seat, coughing and hacking. RIP IZ.

Fly high IZ

I played his version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow as my dog of 14 years was being put down.

Rest in Paradise IZ🕊

We only get one life. Make wise choices to improve the odds you'll be blessed with a long life. Make obvious very poor choices.... well, be careful what you wish for. His extreme obesity is painful to look at. A very talented man who committed slow suicide.

❤❤❤❤🎶

I will listen to his tracks soon

May his talented soul, Rest In Peace

I noticed the name of the king who bought the forbidden island, when I use the English subtitle, the king's name is Kamehameha on 1:00

RIP

Hello love you😢❤ aloha audios and Ricoh

Brudda IZ! 🙏🏻RIP

He will always have my support and love he was a beautiful human being, and deserves to be respected by all because he gave us something very special. Love. Happiness, and joy just listening to him send it to all of us.❤ It is sad to know his life was so sad. He deserved better❤

For me his name will always be synonymous with the movie Finding Forester.

A tragic tale of overindulgence brought on by the loss of an indigenous culture thru imperialism.

Rest in peace.

An artist needs to write a song; Don't cry for me, plant a tree and let it grow big!

his mass gave him a beautiful tone of voice/singing unfortunatly it killed him. =[

RIP Tree planted.

God bless Iz :) RIP

❤October 20. Downey theatre. Makaha son.

Is the beam from DBZ named after the king

I did not know the Kamehameha wave from DBZ was named after a Hawaiian king. It makes so much sense though

So disrespectful in several ways. Look at the happiness and joy that that one song, his version of, has given us forever.

It's really jarring to hear the difference between his music and his actual life. Obviously he wasn't a freak serial killer or something, but a drug addict and the town drunkard isnt my image of his angelic voice. Regardless, thank you for the wonderful bio!

1:00 King Kamehameha Goku would be proud

IZ is Metal af!!!!

I was worried about him. Soon as I seen him ,

🧡🇨🇦🧡

IZ ❤

❤Iz❤

I don’t understand . The uncle said he was terrible in one clip and then in another- wonderful. Which is it?

Busting his jaw 😂😂😂 a man that size would take your head of,the man was lucky,RIP big guy...

King Kamehameha has got to be the best name ever.

Shout out to the uncle, mf legend

Then after I would have to drive grandma home to Waimānalo

who how this reporter put in a slide of his mean disrespect .

The Big Pun of Hawaii

Question. Wouldn't there be interbreeding with only 100 people on the island? How is that healthy?

He was too overweight 😞unfortunately 😢

Early death Really

“Early death” said nobody looking at his BMI…

Is anyone surprised he suffered early death?

Mow now ❤❤😊😅😮😢🎉😂

He's still alive, this is bogus

No fit enough to survive his own size

He was a glutton.

You mispronounced most Hawaiian words!!! Ka-maka-Vee-Vaa-oh-lay Oo-koo-lay-lay Ho-no-lulu

sad that he chose to commit suicide by over eating , choices have consequences

Please learn how to pronounce his name and the other Hawaiian terms. I can appreciate you sharing this video, however, this is very offensive to the local people of Hawai'i.

He was humongous obesity at its worst❗️💯❗️ Shame on anyone letting themselves get that way ❗️💯❗️

He became a Christian toward the end of his life.