The daughter of famous Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole, has mostly lived a quiet existence. But her father’s influence still has a big impact on Hawaiian music and the islands’ cultural identity.
Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole was more than just a vocalist. He was a well-known Hawaiian son, an advocate for social justice, and a musical pioneer. His powerful baritone voice and skill with the ukulele won over crowds all over the world. His medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World” became a well-known symbol of aloha (love) and Hawaiian spirit.
Profile summary
| Full name | Ceslie Ann Kamakawiwo’ole |
| Gender | Female |
| Year of birth | 1983 |
| Age | 42 years old (as of October 2025) |
| Place of birth | Hawaii, USA |
| Current residence | Hawaii, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 5’6” |
| Height in centimetres | 168 |
| Weight in pounds | 175 |
| Weight in kilograms | 79 |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Father | Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Bruddah, IZ) |
| Mother | Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole |
| Relationship status | Single |
| Net worth | $1 million – $5 million |
Who Is Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole?
Wehi or Wehe is a nickname for Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole, who was born in Hawaii, USA in 1983. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and his wife Marlene have only one daughter.
Ceslie-Ann’s life was unusual from the start. Her family was very connected to Hawaiian culture when she was born. With his sweet voice and ukulele, her father was already making waves in the music world. Her mom did hula. People in their town knew and loved them both.
Ceslie’s parents, on the other hand, tried to keep her out of the spotlight, even though her father was famous. People didn’t see her on stage or in interviews. She lived a quiet life at home, though, like a normal kid in a not-so-normal family.
Early Life and Family Connections
Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole was born into a family where culture and heritage were always there. As the daughter of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and Marlene Ku’upua Kamakawiwo’ole, she has a strong legacy of music, cultural pride, and respect from her community. The Kamakawiwo’ole family name became famous around the world because of her father’s famous voice, which was captured in covers of songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World.”
But it was never easy to grow up in the shadow of such great fame. While her father represented joy, hope, and Hawaiian identity to millions around the world, Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole had to deal with the more personal side of family life that came with popularity and expectations. Her youth was a mix of love, culture, and the stress of being connected to a famous person who had become a symbol of a whole group of people.
Music Career and Contributions
As Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole grew into her role as a singer, she took on the responsibility of carrying on her father’s legacy while still making her own way. Her music is a lively mix of modern and traditional Hawaiian sounds that makes a new kind of music that is also familiar.
Ceslie-Ann’s performances show how deeply she is connected to her heritage and how dedicated she is to stretching the limits of Hawaiian music.
Collaborations with Notable Artists
Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole has worked with a lot of different musicians, both in Hawaii and around the world, over the course of her career. These partnerships have made her music better by letting her try new things and reach more people.
She has worked with other musicians to keep Hawaiian music alive in the world of music, which is important for the health of her culture.
Personal Life and Relationships
In 1975, Iz married Marlene Kuʻupua Ah Lo Kamakawiwoʻole. Ceslie-Ann “Wehi” Kamakawiwoʻole was the couple’s only child. Iz stayed true to his Hawaiian roots and family beliefs even when he was famous. Iz, on the other hand, had a hard time with significant obesity for most of his life. He weighed over 1,000 pounds at one point because of genetics and lifestyle problems. He had many health problems that eventually led to his death from respiratory failure in 1997.
Her Father
Ceslie-Ann’s father was in the Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau music group, which released several albums, including Ho’ola, Ho’oluana, and Kaela. Israel Kawakawiwo’ole recorded his first album as a solo singer in 1990. It won two awards: Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year.
The Mountain Apple Company put out Israel’s second album, Facing Future. It reached number 25 on the Billboard Top Catalogue Chart and sold over a million CDs in the US. During the HARA awards ceremony in 1997, Ceslie’s father watched from his hospital bed.
As an activist, Ceslie’s father utilized his fame as a musician to fight for Hawaii’s independence and rights. He would put anything he wanted to say in the lyrics of his songs.
Ceslie-Ann’s Father’s Death
For most of his life, Ceslie-Ann’s father was overweight and had to go to the hospital a lot because of it. He had long-term heart and lung problems that made him go to the hospital a lot. He died in the Queen’s Medical Center hospital. Israel passed away on June 26, 1997, at the age of 38, from respiratory failure, which was a result of his obesity.
The flag flew at half-mast on July 10, 1997, the day Ceslie-Ann’s father was buried. This was to honor the music star who had died. The koa wood casket from Israel was at the state capital building in Honolulu. A lot of people saw music videos that had Ceslie’s father’s ashes in them.
The Incident That Changed Everything
Honolulu’s February 25, 2015, began like every other day. A Mercedes SUV owner parked their car on Ala Wai Boulevard and then went about their day. The automobile was gone when they got back at 7:00 am. At 3:20 p.m., they called the Honolulu Police to report the theft. This started a series of events that would make Ceslie-Ann famous.
The cops started an inquiry by setting up surveillance and following leads. Community tips led them to Komalo Street in Waipahu, where they saw the stolen car. Authorities were able to authenticate the identity of their suspect through local CCTV equipment. Around 4:00 pm, they saw Ceslie-Ann get into the car that had been stolen and drive away.
The police put out a warrant for her arrest and set her bail at $20,000. But that wasn’t the end of the story. What transpired next turned a simple theft case into a very public manhunt.
Personal Struggles and Legal Issues
Even though Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole grew up in a wealthy family, her life has been hard. She has had a lot of personal problems, and the media has covered a lot of them. Arrest was one of the most important things that happened in her life. It put her in the public eye for all the wrong reasons.
Tuko says that Ceslie-Ann was arrested on a number of crimes, such as drug possession and theft. These events made it clear how different life is from the idealized picture that people typically have of Israel’s past. The arrest was a turning moment that revealed the problems she had been having behind the scenes.
Advocacy for Hawaiian Culture and Rights
Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole is a vocal supporter of Hawaiian culture and rights in addition to her music. She uses her position to talk about how important it is to protect Hawaii’s cultural history and the rights of its people. Her work as an advocate is a natural extension of her music, which is a big part of who she is as a Hawaiian.
Social Media of Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole
Even though Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole doesn’t post much on social media, her fans promote her work on fan pages and groups that commemorate her life. There isn’t an official account that she runs, but you can find videos and other content about her and her father’s legacy on sites like YouTube.
This YouTube link, for instance, has a bunch of videos that honor the Kamakawiwo’ole family’s contributions to Hawaiian music. These films highlight her performances and how her father, Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole, will always be remembered.
Net Worth
It’s hard to say how much Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole is worth right now. But a few estimates suggest that her net worth is between $1 million and $5 million.
When he died, her father, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, was worth about $3 million. His music still makes money, therefore Ceslie might get some of that money.
But it’s hard to estimate how much money she makes on her own because we don’t know what she does for work anymore. She leads a quiet life and has never acted like she lives a glamorous or luxurious one.
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Conclusion
The story of Ceslie-Ann Kamakawiwo’ole is a complicated mix of successes and failures. She has been under a lot of criticism and public attention because she is the daughter of a Hawaiian legend. There is a lot of information about her personal problems and legal troubles, but they are not fully defined.
Her efforts to make things right and stay strong in the face of tragedy show how strong the human spirit is. Ceslie-Ann’s tale is a reminder that even when you are surrounded by brilliance, you can still find your own way and work for a better future.
