I love the music of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole but have a pet peeve when people that love “Over the Rainbow” haven’t listened to any of his other work or other Hawaiian musicians. It doesn’t start or end there people! As much as I love his version of that song, it is not a Hawaiian song and has nothing to do with Hawaii, other than we have rainbows all the time. I also will say that I liked Iz better with the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau than his solo stuff. This is my favorite of all the songs they did and the harmony vocals just take me home.
Don’t get me wrong, Iz was the biggest star (in all ways) but the sweet harmonies with his brother and the rest of the band are not to be missed if you are fan of Braddah Iz. Skippy (Iz’s older brother who died at age 28} always was the hardworking leader of the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau. He would work real hard and practice over and over until he got it right. Iz never did this. He was care free. But Iz was much more talented than Skippy. He use to get mad at Israel. “Do you know how long it takes me …to learn to sing any song and play it at the same time? And you just pick it right up!! Iz really did have a beautiful voice. Skippy use to say “God! He does not even have to try!” He just opens his mouth and he can sing! I have to practice and concentrate, and try really hard. Iz never understood why others had trouble picking up songs. He would say: “Just do it, brah…” Everything just came naturally for Iz. “Israel just never understood how hard it is to “just do it”. When Skippy died at such a young age, it made Iz face his own mortality and was a big driver in his solo career. He started having more medical issues, spending more time in the hospital and wanted to leave a legacy for his wife and family. The rest of the band were hurt by his departure but eventually they would get over it and joined to honor his greatness.
This song they didn’t write but most Hawaiian’s think it is the most important song they made popular and got many Hawaiians into the sovereignty movement. It is a song about the loss of Hawaii to modernization and the loss of Hawaiian culture.
The original band with Skippy is still my favorite.
They were once even on the Captain and Tennille show.
This is a great 30 minute documentary of Iz and his legacy. I dare you to watch it and not shed a tear!
Here is another beach
I flew to Brazil once long ago and they played this & Copacabana nonstop in a loop! I thought I was going to lose my mind & it took me years to be able to listen to this again.
This song is still so cool, and I love that it’s on FABTV.
The Fixx – Reach The Beach
The Vince Guaraldi Trio – Pebble Beach
a white sandy beach?
man…you are taking me right out of my mood
im going with beach music instead of the theme
hell come to think of it…..i think i have to gives yous the joy of of def rhymez
fell out of bed…..figured id wake the neighbourhood
anyhoo…its 5 am…its fine to be playing this shit loud
That’s beautiful. Do you ever think of moving back, or regret leaving?
Church Girls – Florida
I love visiting but don’t regret moving, especially as I see how motivated for education my daughters and their friends are compared to friend’s kids in Hawaii. When I go back, most of my friends are still living paycheck to paycheck. If we can afford it, we may get a condo when we retire and live there part of the year but it is so expensive it probably won’t happen. I really miss family, friends, the warm ocean, and food the most but usually get my fix a few times a year.
I’ve never visited Hawaii, but I live in an Eternal Hawaii of my Spotless Mind. I put it off and put it off and now I hate flying, so I may never see it outside my dreams.
I have always loved Hawai’i ’78. It is so beautiful in it’s sadness – the music and lyrics – it always makes me tear up.
Around the time that song came out a “sovereignty movement” came out & one of the founders was a guy named Bumpy Kanahele. They lived about 5 miles from us in a mostly Hawaiian farming area & started claiming independence from the U.S. They refused to pay taxes and wouldn’t register cars, they put Nation of Hawaii on plates. The police would pull them over and ticket them and they would write tickets back from the Nation of Hawaii. It got ugly at times and is still a fight being waged.
We’re you still at our school when Frank did an assembly in a sumo suit? That was one of the only assemblies I remember going to! He’s great! Mel Cabang just passed away recently, Lucille in the video.
I remember seeing him. I don’t remember a sumo suit.
Man that melody and Iz’s singing in Hawaii ’78 gives me chills every time.
Martha and the Muffins – Echo Beach
Beautiful stuff! Here are 2 Hawaiian songs I like for whom you surely know more!
Led at Honey’s – “E Ku`u Morning Dew”:
“Ku’u Ipo Onaona” by Ledward Kaʻapana:
Ledward and Fran Guidry are my slack key idols.
such a sweet sound
Ledward is a treasure! He started w/ his twin brother, Nedward in Hui Ohana.
I know it’s probably heresy, but when I hear White Sandy Beach, I will reach for whichever of my taro patch guitar, uke or lap steel is closest and play along.
I’m pretty sure I mentioned this before but Gabby was my steel guitar man, he taught so many Hawaiian legends & his son taught my nephew & even taught classes at my brothers school.
Greg Sardinha is currently one of the best masters still around.
and one for today’s theme.
Nicki Minaj – Starships:
The Mrs got me a lap steel for Christmas, and I’ve spent the lion’s share of my lockdown learning to play it. It’s wicked hard. I can play a bunch of instruments but the lap steel has been a real challenge. But there’s so much great lap steel music to hear.
You need to suck it up & go to Hawaii for one of the Steel Guitar Festivals! Tell Mrs. Vuoto I said so!