Born on this day in 1959, Israel “IZ” Ka‘ano‘i Kamakawiwo‘ole came into the world with a gift that would one day carry the spirit of Hawai‘i far beyond its shores. With a gentle ukulele, a voice as warm as a Pacific sunrise, and a heart rooted deeply in Native Hawaiian pride, IZ became one of the most beloved and influential musicians of his generation — a cultural ambassador whose music still echoes across oceans.