What Do Jason Castro and American Idol Have to do with Hawaiian Vacations?
Not a trick question. And glad you asked. Well, anybody that pays attention to the pop news knows that Jason Castro scored big on American Idol with his rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, while artfully strumming a Ukulele. So simple, and so great. Well, Jason certainly got his inspiration from the great and beloved Isreal Kamakawiwio`ole … Bruddah Iz … and his world renowned recording of the same tune. Bruddah Iz passed on in 1997, but his music remains strong, in Hawaii and around the world. (In fairness to all parties, the song was first recorded in 1939 by Judy Garland for the box office hit “Wizard of OZ”. I believe it was the first Technicolor film I ever saw, and that was in early 1940. So there. And I was 8 years old … so there, again.) If you’re prepping for your first visit to Hawaii, knowing about Bruddah Iz is an essential. Many of his songs address the desire of the Hawaiian people to protect their cultural heritage, as well as giving the world a sense of what Hawa
