With each successive recording, Israel shared his love of Hawai‘i and her people with the world at large and the world responded in kind. Today, Facing Future remains the top selling Hawaiian music album in the world. In 2002 it was certified gold by the RIAA, a first for a Hawaiian Record label. In 2005, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1 million units. Then Alone in IZ World was certified gold by the RIAA. With each passing year, Israel’s presence in the music industry and the sales of his recordings continue to grow despite the trends that surround the industry. An amazing story about an amazing man, the man referred to by some as the Hawaiian Suppaman. 

While Israel has always been revered in Hawai‘i, his worldwide influence came later. IZ’s music first gained national attention in the mid 1990’s. Billboard Magazine writer Doug Reece writes: “In 1997 there were only seven weeks when Hawaiian musicians--citizens of a state whose population is a fraction of all others--did not appear on the Top World Music Albums chart. Even more impressive was the individual tally scored by cherished, recently deceased vocalist Israel Kamakawiwo`ole. His (most recent) album ‘N Dis Life’ ran a remarkable 39 weeks on that chart…

Listeners around the world were becoming aware of the power of IZ’s music, including those involved in film and television. These great fans were insistent in their desire that Israel’s music be used in their projects. The result was a series of placements in television series and film, including “Young Americans” (Fox Television), “Wind On Water” (NBC), “Party of Five” (Fox Television), “Picket Fences” (CBS), “Race The Sun” (Tri-Star film), “Little Girls In Pretty Boxes” (Victor Television-Lifetime Television Movie Of The Week), “Byrds In Paradise” (ABC), “Lani Loa” (Chrome Dragon Pictures film) and “In God’s Hands” (Independent feature film produced by Zalman King- 1998 release).

The more IZ was exposed to the world, the more fans responded. Universal Films contacted The Mountain Apple Company about a one year exclusive license to use Israel’s recording, “Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World”. The call was the result of director Martin Brest (“Scent Of A Woman”, “Beverly Hills Cop”), love of this remarkable version by IZ.

Following its exposure in “Meet Joe Black,” eToys.com adopted IZ’s music for a series of ubiquitous national television commercials. Israel’s sweet voice lent itself beautifully to the television commercials developed for eToys.com, which celebrate the innocence and beauty of childhood and the discovery of a world filled with wonder. The success of IZ’s music prompted feature articles in the Washington Post and in the December 2-8, 2000 issue of TV Guide.

More exposure lead to more fans, and the fans were truly passionate in their support. In December 2000, national best-selling author Dean Koontz honored Israel on the front page of his new book “From The Corner of His Eye”. Koontz’s quote pays tribute to IZ’s music: 

“As I wrote this book, the singular and beautiful music of the late Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole was always playing. I hope that the reader finds pleasure in my story equal to the joy and consolation that I found in the voice, the spirit, and the heart of Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole.”

1993 - Solo career launched

1993 - “Facing Future” released; contains “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”

1994 - Iz performs “Hawaiian Sup’pa Man,” with 300 dancers, at the NFL Pro Bowl.

1995 - “Over the Rainbow” is aired by Chris Douridas, KCRW deejay in Santa Monica; he mentions Mountain Apple Co.’s 800 number, generating a phone blitz

1995 - “E Ala Ë” released

1996 - “N Dis Life” released

1996 - In what would be his last Nä Hökü Hanohano Awards appearance and performance, Iz takes the stage, with his ex-Mäkaha Sons buddies in the audience who join him on stage in the only reunion of the Mäkaha Sons of Ni`ihau

1997 - “N Dis Life” wins Nä Hökü Hanohano Awards for best male vocalist, album of the year, island contemporary album of the year, Iz also wins People’s Choice favorite entertainer of the year award

1997 - June 26: Iz dies at 12:16 a.m., at age 38

1997 - July 9. Iz lies in state in a koa casket at the rotunda of the state capitol; an estimated 10,000 swarm past his casket to bid the gentle giant aloha

1997 - July 12. The Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Hokule`a take Iz’s ashes for scattering off Mäkua Beach on the Waianae Coast

2001 - “Alone in IZ World” released; debuts No. 1 on Billboard’s World Chart and No. 135 on Top 200, No. 13 on top independent albums chart and No.15 on top internet album sales chart

2002 - “Facing Future” certified gold by recording industry (sales surpassing 500,000 copies)

2005 - “Facing Future” certified platinum by RIAA (sales surpassing 1 million copies)

2007 - June 26. “Wonderful World” - A new album with orchestral accompaniment is released on the 10th anniversary of his death

Television

“Strummer The Future is Unwritten”
(Nitrate Strummer, Ltd - Great Britain) - 2007
“Life on Mars”(BBC - UK) - 2007
“Oprah & Gayle’s Big Adventures 1” (Harpo Productions) - 2006
“Las Vegas” (NBC Television) - 2006
“Cold Case”(Warner Bros. Television) - 2005
“Inside the NFL”(HBO) - 2004
“ER” (Warner Bros. Television) - 2002
“Gideon’s Crossing” (Touchstone Television) - 2001
“Young Americans” (Columbia Pictures) - 2001
National Geographic Special “Lens of Darkness, Lens of Light” - 2001
“Baywatch” (Baywatch Production Company) - 2000
“Party of Five” (Columbia Pictures Television) - 1998
“Wind On Water”(NBC Television) - 1998
“Little Girls In Pretty Boxes” (Victor) - 1997
“Picket Fences” (Twentieth Century Fox Films) - 1996
“Then There Were None” Documentary

Commercials

Zala Water (Slovenia) - 2007
OTP Bank (Hungary) - 2007
GALP Energia (Portugal) - 2007
Leo Burnett - Kelloggs Rice Krispies - 2007
Hallmark Greeting Cards - 2005, 2007
Fiat Chroma (Italy) - 2005
Norway Lotto (Norway) - 2005
Imaginarium Toys (Spain) - 2005
Menzes Health Ins. Co. (Netherlands) - 2005
Chase Bank - 2005
Roua Muntilor Mineral Water (Romania) - 2004
Lynx Axe 24/7 (Great Britain) - 2004
Dulux Paint (Australia, New Zealand) - 2003
Sony Electronics - 2003
Agrana Marketing (Austria) - 2002
Sony Comdex - 2001
Aston Hotels & Resorts - 2001
KB Toys - 2001
AT&T Wireless - 2001
ITT Sheraton Hotels - 2000
eToys - 1999