<P> Throughout his life, Kamakawiwoʻole was profoundly obese and at one point he weighed 757 pounds (343 kg; 54 st 1 lb) standing at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall (body mass index = 97.2). He endured several hospitalizations because of health problems . Beset with respiratory, heart, and other medical problems, he died at the age of 38 in Queen's Medical Center at 12: 18 a.m. on June 26, 1997 . At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole, and their daughter, Ceslie - Ann "Wehi". </P> <P> The Hawaii state flag flew at half - staff on July 10, 1997, the day of Kamakawiwoʻole's funeral . His koa wood coffin lay in state at the state capitol building in Honolulu . He was the third person in Hawaiian history to be awarded this honor, and the only one who was not a government official . Approximately ten thousand people attended the funeral . Thousands of fans gathered as his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean at Mākua Beach on July 12, 1997 . According to witnesses, many people on land commemorated him by honking their car and truck horns on all Hawaiian highways that day . Scenes from the funeral and scattering of Kamakawiwoʻole's ashes were featured in official music videos of "Over the Rainbow" released posthumously by Mountain Apple Company . As of August 2018, the two videos as featured on YouTube have collectively received over 610 million views . </P> <P> On September 20, 2003, hundreds paid tribute to Kamakawiwoʻole as a bronze bust (located at 21 ° 27 ′ 00" N 158 ° 11 ′ 27" W ﻿ / ﻿ 21.45008 ° N 158.19092 ° W ﻿ / 21.45008; - 158.19092) of the revered singer was unveiled at the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center on Oʻahu . The singer's widow, Marlene Kamakawiwoʻole, and sculptor Jan - Michelle Sawyer were present for the dedication ceremony . </P> <P> On December 6, 2010, NPR named Kamakawiwoʻole, as "The Voice of Hawaii" in its 50 great voices series . </P>

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