Ten years after his death, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole remains a magical figure with mythical status in Hawai'i as his music sales continue to dominate the local charts.

Realizing this was an important milestone, and knowing that our own 150th anniversary was coming to a close, The Advertiser decided to embark on a special project that you can see on our pages and our Web site today in one of the most ambitious multimedia efforts we have ever undertaken.

The idea began last November when President and Publisher Mike Fisch contacted Mountain Apple CEO Jon de Mello and President Leah Bernstein and brainstormed about a special concert of Kamakawiwo'ole's music to mark the 10th anniversary of his passing. But the better idea was to tie into de Mello's work on a new symphonic CD of Iz tunes that would be available this year.

We were interested in the CD, but wanted something special for our readers, and de Mello and Bernstein suggested taking a single from the CD and offering it up exclusively to our readers in the Sunday paper. We'd never done this before, and with the help of our circulation and production departments we developed special letter-sized backing for high-speed inserters to place 170,000 copies of the CD in the paper, 4,000 or so of which will be delivered free to non-subscribers on the Wai'anae Coast, where Kamakawiwo'ole grew up.

The single is truly a collector's item in that it will not be sold or offered in any way other than via today's Advertiser.

PREVIEW NEW ALBUM

Mountain Apple has also allowed us to let you hear the entire 12-song CD on our special Iz Web site (honoluluadvertiser .com/iz) today and tomorrow before it goes on sale to the general public. After that, you can hear snippets from the songs on the site. But the entire single "Wonderful World" will remain on our site indefinitely. If you want to buy the CD, we have a link to Mountain Apple.

Our special Iz site, produced under the direction of Special Projects Editor Stephen Downes, took months to build and populate and contains plenty of video and music. For instance, we videotaped several of Kamakawiwo'ole's friends, including Roland Cazimero, who breaks down in tears talking about Iz.

We also have collected some unique and rare multimedia pieces: Concert footage of Kamakawiwo'ole performing at a fundraising event at a hospital on Moloka'i (courtesy of The Queen's Medical Center); Kamakawiwo'ole and Rell Sunn talking about Hawaiian health issues (courtesy of Juniroa Productions Inc.); conversations between Iz and de Mello during their recording sessions; even samples of advertising around the world featuring his music.

One extra-special feature: a multimedia tutorial with music instructor Jody Kamisato, who will teach you to play one of Kamakawiwo'ole's favorite songs, "White Sandy Beach," on 'ukulele.

SPECIAL SECTION

Our companion 48-page special Commemorative Edition examines Iz's influence on Hawaiian music and culture by talking to those who either knew him or were shaped by him. So you'll hear musical greats from the Makaha Sons to Raiatea Helm offering their views of Israel's legacy.

"Some drew inspiration from his musicianship; others from his friendship; some from both," project editor Downes said. "Their views, we hope, can help explain why Kamakawiwo'ole has achieved what is arguably a unique iconic status in Hawai'i musical culture."

Veteran staff writers Mike Gordon, Beverly Creamer and Wayne Harada did the heavy lifting on the section. Harada, who reviews Hawaiian music for us, put together his guide to essential Hawaiian music albums and a historical timeline of this musical movement. Others crucial to the project were videographer/photographer Bruce Asato, Web designer Chris Kanemura with a big assist from Andreas Arvman and other online staffers, as well as multimedia graphics by Minette McCabe and special section design by Russell McCrory.

De Mello, Bernstein and Lisa Soong from Mountain Apple gave us access and copyright clearance to their archives besides giving the world a brilliant new CD. I'm no music critic, but the CD is astonishing in that it gives new life to songs that were already classics.

We are proud to be part of this worthy effort and hope you enjoy today's tribute to a legendary singer whose music is still the soundtrack for Hawai'i.