Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'Ole: Wonderful World: Piano/Vocal/Chords Book

These arrangements honor Iz's gift for transforming songs, whether standards like "What a Wonderful World" or Hawaiian favorites, by stripping them to their emotional core and rebuilding them with orchestral warmth. The collection spans his most beloved material, and the piano writing captures the lushness of the original recordings while remaining singable and playable by intermediate pianists. For choirs and soloists, this book offers repertoire that connects directly to students' hearts while teaching them about Hawaiian music and culture beyond the tourist surface.

Warmth, generosity, and unhurried grace. These songs feel like they're being shared rather than performed, as if Iz is sitting across from you, inviting you into his world. There's a quality of acceptance and aloha throughout, a reminder that music's deepest power lies not in flash or speed, but in the space between notes where feeling lives.

Pianists and vocalists seeking meaningful solo repertoire, choirs looking to expand into Hawaiian and world music traditions, and educators who want to introduce students to an artist whose music demonstrates that simplicity and sincerity are more powerful than technical complexity. This collection also serves pianists who accompany singers and need reliable, beautiful arrangements of beloved standards reimagined through a Hawaiian lens.

• Let the melody breathe rather than rush through phrases. Iz's phrasing was deliberate and spacious; honor that by giving each phrase room to resonate.
• Balance the vocal line with piano accompaniment that supports rather than dominates. These arrangements work best when the accompaniment recedes into the background, letting the voice remain in focus.
• Pay attention to the Hawaiian language pronunciation in songs like 'Opae E and Henehene Kou 'Aka. Clarity here deepens the cultural authenticity and connects listeners to the music's roots.
• Find the warmth in chord voicings. Many of these pieces sit in rich, open voicings; play them with a full, rounded tone rather than thinly.

Open a concert with "What a Wonderful World" or "Over the Rainbow" to set a contemplative, welcoming tone; use Hawaiian selections like "White Sandy Beach" or "A Hawaiian Like Me" to celebrate cultural diversity in a spring or world music concert; or program several pieces together as a cohesive set that showcases both Iz's interpretive gifts and the beauty of Hawaiian musical traditions. These arrangements work equally well in formal recitals and informal settings where emotional directness matters more than technical virtuosity.

• Singing with control and intention across sustained phrases
• Reading and performing piano accompaniment that prioritizes serving the vocal line
• Interpreting Hawaiian language pronunciation and musical idioms
• Voicing and balancing lush, jazz-inflected chord progressions
• Pacing and phrasing music that prioritizes emotional communication over technical display