Today, May 20th, is none other than Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s birthday!! Happy Birthday IZ!!

A clip from the Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole DVD, “IZ: The Man and His Music – Island Music Island Hearts.” Features interviews, live performances, and a simple glimpse into one of Hawaii’s most treasured musicians.
Experience the bigger than life personality of IZ and learn about the man behind the music.

Purchase your copy of Island Music Island Hearts today.
http://www.izhawaii.com/store
http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/i…

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/israelkamakaw…
Twitter: http://twitter.com/izhawaii

A clip from the IZ DVD, Hot Hawaiian Nights. IZ plays with fellow musicians Roland Cazimero and Mel Amina.

Shop the DVD!

Check out this recent issue of Surfer Magazine to see IZ’s Tenor Ukulele featured!

The Limited Edition IZ IT Tenor Ukulele is now available at Martin Guitar retailers nationwide! Just like the Ukulele that IZ loved!

Check out this video from the NAMM Convention talking about this Ukulele!
Some fans have trouble pronouncing IZ’s last name–do you? How do you pronounce it?

A clip from the Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole DVD, “IZ: The Man and His Music – Island Music Island Hearts.” Features interviews, live performances, and a simple glimpse into one of Hawaii’s most treasured musicians.

Experience the bigger than life personality of IZ and learn about the man behind the music.

Purchase your copy of Island Music Island Hearts today.
http://www.izhawaii.com/store
http://www.mountainapplecompany.com/i…

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/israelkamakaw…
Twitter: http://twitter.com/izhawaii

It’s finally here! Unveiled at NAMM last week, the IZ 1T Tenor Ukulele is now available at Martin Guitar retailers nationwide!

It has a list price of $1,999.00 and has a bunch of awesome features, such as a beautiful quilted mahogany construction, an East Indian rosewood headplate adorned with “IZ” inlaid in Hawaiian koa!

Check out Martin Guitar’s website for more details and to find a store near you!

Aloha IZ fans! Popular Contemporary Hawaiian group, Sudden Rush, have just released a powerful remix/cover of Hawai’i 78 (one of IZ’s signature songs!) entitled: HAWAII 3000, featuring Uncle Willie K!

Check out the preview at our site! Available for $0.99 download, and on iTunes!

And don’t forget to check out IZ’s version of, “Hawai’i 78″!

Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo`ole’s song, “`Opae E” on the album “Alone in IZ World“, is featured in Honolulu Magazine’s “The 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century”.

The album ranked 3rd on the magazine’s list!

“Alone In IZ World” was compiled after the passing of Iz in 1997.  Luckily, Jon de Mello recorded every studio moment to tape – outtakes, banter, lighthearted covers.  The result was an unheard revelation.

Check out, “The 25 Greatest Hawaii Albums of the New Century” and, “Alone in IZ World” now!

Noted rock photographer Robert Knight shot Israel at a karate demonstration by martial arts grandmaster Walter Godin.

IZ at Pat’s in Punalu’u.

The Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau often played for Sunday brunch at Pat’s at Punalu’u.

Jon de Mello is Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole’s producer and lifelong friend. He is the CEO of Mountain Apple Company, IZ’s record company in Hawai‘i.

Check out Mountain Apple Company’s Facebook page and discover more great Hawaiian Music!

Quick-tempered in his youth, Israel often found himself in trouble. Years later, he advised young Hawaiians to “avoid pilikia.”

IZ with the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau.

Photo from IZ: Voice of the People, a full color, hardcover coffee table book featuring tons of exclusive IZ stories and photos! A perfect Christmas gift, this book is sure to bring holiday joy to any IZ fan in your life (or you)!

Get IZ: Voice of the People HERE!

Old poster for an IZ Tribute Concert held in 2000.

“Dis music is feelingz dat goin’ last fo’eva and dat all generationz to come can fall back on.”
- Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole

Have you gotten your Official IZ Hook Shirt yet? Get yours today!

Are you nostalgic for record stores–where fans could browse all kinds of music, and artists had a chance to interact with their fans?

Here is IZ at his last autograph session at Borders Books & Music – Ward Centre, in Honolulu, Hawaii. IZ would always stay til everyone in line got an autograph, no matter how late–even if the store wanted to close. Shelley Coscina, Mountain Apple Company’s VP is in the upper right hand corner. Mahalo to Les Honda from Borders for this wonderful memory!

Today we are remembering the great Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole and how lucky we are to have had the opportunity to work with him and know him N Dis Life! IZ, you live in our hearts and minds every day! You are missed by millions around the world.

Share how much IZ has meant to you at our Fan Map. https://www.izhawaii.com/fans

Here’s a trip down memory lane, a rare video of IZ performing almost 20 years ago, with other Hawaiian music greats, Roland Cazimero, Henry Kapono, and Cyril Pahinui!

HAPPY 53RD BIRTHDAY, IZ!

To celebrate this year, we collected fan stories and photos from around the world! Come back tomorrow to check out our brand new FANS section!

In the meantime, here’s some other great fan works!

This is Sungha Jun, a famous acoustic finger-style guitarist from South Korea; here he is covering “Over the Rainbow”!

Here’s a video of a fan who did a digital painting of IZ!

Here’s another portrait of IZ by fan Donovan Crisp!

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole by ~SprayCaint123 on deviantART

Here’s “The Piano Guys” with an instrumental cover of “Over the Rainbow”! Filmed on O’ahu on the North Shore!

Did you know Pearl Jam covered “Over the Rainbow” a few years back? Here’s a video of Eddie Vedder giving a very heartfelt performance in concert in Hawaii!

Here’s a very cool solo a cappella of “Over the Rainbow” by Youtuber daiyel!

Here’s one of IZ’s many young fans performing his rendition of “Over the Rainbow”

IZ’s birthday is coming up on May 20th. If someone else you know also has a birthday coming up, check out your local Hallmark store for the perfect gift! They’ve got a wonderful music box that plays IZ’s “Over the Rainbow” AND you can record your own personal greeting! When someone opens the box, it will alternate between your greeting, and the song. It’s also a memory box, and you can add your own photo and other keepsakes.

Here’s a demo of the music box in action!

Call your local Hallmark store for availability. http://stores.hallmark.com/ Retail price, $19.99.

You are a huge part of IZ’s success. Now become part of his story. His ‘ohana (family) around the world has grown in to a tight-knit, knowing community of music lovers. Get to know this community better by hearing their story and comparing it to yours.

Tell us how you discovered IZ, did you see him in concert, what’s your favorite song, how often you listen to IZ, has his music helped you through a rough patch?…it’s all part of the story.

Send us your IZ stories, photos, artwork, videos, etc. and on the week of May 20th, IZ’s birthday, we will post all the submissions we’ve received from you, the fans.
Together In IZ World.

How to submit your fan story: Just fill out the form below! Click here or scroll down. If you have any questions or trouble with the form, please comment or email us.

Over time, we have heard from fans around the world where they told us of babies being born while IZ played in the background; or consoled by IZ’s music, sad goodbyes as people have dealt with death; countless brides have told us they walked down the aisle to Over The Rainbow. Adults have told us that when they were a small kid, they stood in line to get an autograph and still cherish it. The rainbow of fans around the world and their love of his music is what connects these unique memories all together. We’d love to share your story with the world.

Submission Agreement: By submitting your materials for inclusion in the Together in IZ World promotion, you are granting permission to Mountain Apple Company/Big Boy Records to use those materials for promotional purposes and are warranting that you have the right to grant this permission.

Note: Please don’t panic if you see a grey/blank screen after you submit the form. If you scroll up you will see the confirmation that your submission was received.

Aloha IZ fans! We’ve JUST released a new IZ compilation, exclusively for download at izhawaii.com! It contains 10 fan favorite songs as well as a BONUS never before released track of Hawaiian Sup’pman, available ONLY through this special album download. Just click the link!

For those looking to share IZ with their family and friends, this album is a perfect selection of songs to introduce IZ into their world. Aloha!

Singer Mike Keale wearing an IZ t-shirt at a music kiosk on Kauai. (Mike is IZ’s cousin and the nephew of Moe Keale!) Get your own IZ t-shirt! ($14.99 to $16.99) https://www.izhawaii.com/store/

IZ’s Facebook just surpassed 50,000 fans/likes over the weekend!! A HUGE mahalo to all the fans, new and old, from Hawaii and around the world, for all your support! IZ would be so proud. And keep IZ’s spirit going and continue to share his music! We’ll be at 100,000 fans in no time!

Aloha UK fans! If you receive ARC Music’s mail order catalog, you’ll see none other than IZ’s Facing Future on the cover for Spring 2012! ARC Music boasts the largest and finest selection of World and Folk music, and we’re so happy they chose Facing Future and 50 Greatest Hawaii Albums of All Time as featured titles!

This song was composed by IZ’s dear friend, Leo Anderson Akana. IZ found it inspiring and wanted to record it. Jon de Mello decided that it was the perfect song and had the perfect addition… a recording of Hawaiians chanting from some of the observations of the 100th Anniversary of the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. E Ala E continues as an anthem to the Hawaiian people as they acquire proper recognition as the indigenous people of Hawaii.

E Ala E is available on IZ’s album of the same name!

From the first album we worked on with IZ, he insisted on doing a favorite of his, White Sandy Beach. IZ told us that a man named “Willie Dan” was the composer, but Mountain Apple Company could not find the publisher or composer, despite looking high and low. It was about a decade after IZ’s passing that “Willie Dan” finally contacted us. One of the reasons that we couldn’t find him was that “Willie Dan” was a pen name for his compositions!

Anyway, we were finally able to connect with the composer, and now Mountain Apple Company is the publisher of this great Hawaiian song. Even though IZ never got to know “Willie Dan” we’re sure he’s happy that their collaboration continues to bring joy all over the world.

White Sandy Beach is available on IZ’s album Facing Future!

This Austrian sugar commercial illustrates how everyone–man or animal, loves sugar! We think the same can be said about IZ’s music, do your pets like to listen with you?

Braddah Iz article on dailykos.com!

Have you ever wanted to play some of IZ’s songs? Maybe your New Year’s resolution was to learn to play music?

As part of our New Year’s sales we have IZ’s Wonderful World Songbook – Easy Piano on sale for $9.98! (was $19.98) Check it out!

“Over the Rainbow” was played in New York Times Square on New Years! Check it out on this brief clip..

As 2011 draws to a close, we leave you with a clip of “Over the Rainbow” from the closing scene in Finding Forrester, a movie about a young man, inspired by a talented writer to pursue and hone his own writing skills. Has IZ inspired you to pursue music (or anything!) in life?

We hope that you have a great 2012!! Happy New Year!!

For more on IZ, check out: https://www.izhawaii.com/ and add us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/israelkamakawiwoole

This Rice Krispies commercial with IZ’s “Over the Rainbow” reminds us of the simple joy of spending time with your loved ones.

We hope you’re spending the holidays with the ones you love! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The perfect Christmas gift, IZ: Voice of the People is a full color, hardcover coffee table book which features a cornucopia of exclusive IZ history and photos! This book is sure to please any IZ fan in your life (or you)! Buy it for only $9.98! Here’s another exclusive sneak peek photo of IZ with the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau…

If you’re looking for a great holiday gift for the IZ fan in your life (or for yourself!) the book, IZ: Voice of the People is now on sale for $9.98! http://mountainapplecompany.spinshop.com/details/63093 This is a full color, hard cover coffee table book, that illustrates IZ’s amazing life and career. Here are a few pics… IZ [More...]

This week’s IZ clip comes from a Dutch insurance company. This commercial shows the full spectrum of the human experience, the ups and downs and everything in between. “Over the Rainbow” is definitely in the soundtrack to life for many of us!

For more on IZ, check out: www.facebook.com/israelkamakawiwoole

Happy Thanksgiving to all of IZ’s fans!!

NHK’s Amazing Voice will be doing an episode featuring The Brothers Cazimero and IZ! They were at our office today filming! The episode will air in Japan some time in early 2012.

Aloha! For anyone who hasn’t added us at our new Facebook page, Mountain Apple Company, we’re offering ANOTHER free download for anyone who adds/Likes us there! After you’ve added/Liked us, just go to this link for a free download of IZ’s “Henehene Kou ‘Aka”! http://www.facebook.com/mountainapplecompany?v=app_190322544333196 Share with your friends so they can get the download, [More...]

This Austrian sugar commercial shows how a childhood dream can be reached, “Over the Rainbow”!

What’s your favorite sweet that takes you, “Over the Rainbow”?

Aloha! We’re currently offering a free download for anyone who adds/Likes us at our Mountain Apple Company Facebook page! After you’ve added/Liked us, just go to this link for a free download of IZ’s “White Sandy Beach”. http://www.facebook.com/mountainapplecompany?v=app_190322544333196 Share with your friends so they can get the download, too! And you can also check out [More...]

Here’s a clip from the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore movie 50 First Dates (which takes place and was filmed in Hawaii!) featuring “Over the Rainbow” in a sweet, romantic tone.

Do you know someone who played IZ at their wedding?

This week’s IZ clip is from the TV show, Aerial America, which explores the United States from a bird’s eye view. Get a glimpse of Hawaii’s scenic beauty that inspired IZ’s music!

For fans who don’t live in Hawaii, have you ever visited the islands? If so, what’s your favorite scenic lookout here?

IZ was recently featured in the Japanese magazine, Ukulele Time. Here’s all the articles for any Japanese speaking fans!

Click on the other images to check out the other articles!

This clip features one of our favorite cereals, Rice Krispies! “Over the Rainbow” has been used in so many commercials that are aimed at children and young parents because of the gentleness and innocence of IZ’s voice. Do you listen to IZ with your kids? (He’s sure to calm them down!) Take a look at what Kelloggs did with this Rice Krispies commercial! What’s YOUR favorite cereal?

IZ’s music has been heard in movies, too! “Hawai’i 78″ was featured in the 1996 film Race the Sun. It was based on the 1990 solar race car team from Konawaena High School that went to the World Championship that year. IZ loved having his song in this movie as it was about kids from Hawai’i, and he loved kids.

And if you like the song, we’re offering it as a free download! Just click the button below!

Here’s this week’s IZ commercial clip! This Korean cosmetics/health food company used “Over the Rainbow” to showcase the essence of nature in their products. It only makes sense to use a beautiful song to promote beauty products!

Aloha everyone! We’ve broken the 40,000 mark in Facebook fans!! A HUGE mahalo to all of IZ’s fans throughout the world for your continued support and love of IZ and his music. With your help, we’ll get to 100,000!

IZ’s voice complements a range of themes and emotions. Last week we brought you a cute and very clever little old lady, this week, we’ve got a whimsical bank ad from Hungary, it definitely lives up to the “rainbow” in Over the Rainbow!

IZ’s rendition of Over The Rainbow has inspired so many producers to cleverly use the song….check out what the Lotto in Norway did! Let us know what you think!

IZ has been sweeping across Europe with his hit “Over The Rainbow” (as we mentioned in a previous post, it recently it went Gold in Switzerland!) One of the best glossy magazines in Switzerland, NZZ Folio, devoted an entire issue to the song in general and features a few stories about IZ’s success. Read it [More...]

Update: Aloha IZ fans! Good news, the technical issues we were experiencing have been solved! We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. Check out IZ’s Facebook fanpage, where you can get the free download (just click the tab in the menu on the left that says “Free Download”), purchase IZ merchandise, and receive [More...]

Someone’s birthday coming up? What better way to wish them a Happy Birthday than a card with IZ! This brand new Hallmark card not only features “Over the Rainbow“, but has a cute pop-up with glittery flowers and butterflies! Perfect for that cheerful person in your life! If flowers and butterflies aren’t what you’re looking [More...]

Over the Rainbow is #1 on the UK’s World music charts on iTunes!

Aloha IZ fans! Sorry for the lack of posting recently, we’ve been very busy with new releases from other amazing Hawaiian music artists! But we wanted to let you know about the worldwide success of IZ’s music! Alone in IZ World has gone Gold in Belgium after reaching #1 on their radio and album sale [More...]

It has been a very long time since we have sold the “IZ Hook Shirt” that so many purchased from Israel at his concerts. Stickers were also another IZ favorite to hand out to fans that he met everywhere he went. After years of requests for both items, we have created these pieces of IZ [More...]

IZ continues to climb the charts all over the world and this week his “Somewhere over the Rainbow – The Best of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole” album hit #5 in New Zealand! Also, for his second week in a row IZ’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World medley has hit #1 on Portugal’s Digital Singles charts! [More...]

We are excited to announce that IZ has officially hit the mobile web with his new App! It is available on iTunes, Android Marketplace and the Blackberry App World. Best part is, it’s FREE. Get it here!

This afternoon we had a visit from Israel’s wife Marlene and in her hand was a small ʻukulele case with scribbles and stickers all over it. No it wasn’t THE ‘ukulele from IZ’s performances.

This is the funniest clip we have seen in a long time. We found this video in our YouTube, we love it! I think someone said “Israel Guacamole”!

You may have noticed we have been documenting Israel’s success in Germany and we may have mentioned to stay tuned for more updates on Israel in Europe. Well, the week of December 20th, IZ’ single “Over the Rainbow” was released in France and we are excited to announce that it also hit number 1! In [More...]

READ NOW 10 Great Moments when Music and Movie Meet: At #7 is…

Needless to say we are excited and honored that NPR choose IZ as one of their 50 Great Voices. LISTEN NOW

In 8 Short Weeks IZ has gone Platinum which is selling 300,000 copies of the single. Thats so incredible! There is so much good news coming from Europe thats it’s hard not to talk about it all day long! Mahalo to all who support IZ worldwide!

Ok… maybe just his music. But, he’s definitely establishing a presence abroad.  Fans are tagging IZ in photos they’ve snapped of his CDs on facebook.  Check ‘em out!  Be our friend on facebook….

We wanted, to thank you fans for all of your support we also wanted to offer you a free download of “Hawaii ’78″ which you can get in the sharable widget below.

Become a Fan of IZ’s Official Page on Facebook and get a free download of “Hawaii ’78″!

Another IZ sighting…. Rosario Dawson’s Protest Playlist…..see IZ’s “Hawai`i ’78″ at the bottom.

Honolulu Magazine‘s 123rd Holiday Annual issue features a 23 page spread dedicated to 100 years of Hawaiian music.  A must have for all Hawaiian music lovers! Available now!

If you didn’t get a chance to watch it….Here’s the Hawaii Five-0 episode 6 featuring IZ‘s Hawaii ’78…. the song ends the show.

“Dis music is feelingz dat goin’ last fo’eva and dat all generationz to come can fall back on.” -Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole

Israel Kamakawiwo`ole’s “OVER the RAINBOW” has been #1 for 3 consecutive weeks on Germany’s Top Hit Singles Chart! And Facing Future has moved from #17 to #11 on Germany’s Top Albums! Love those Germans!

Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo`ole’s ‘OVER the RAINBOW’ is at #1 on the German Top100 Singles Chart! How do you say Hawaiian Superman in German….Hawaiischer Supermann?! FANTASTISCH!