Kaori Kawabuchi – Award-Winning Pianist for Any Occasion
Winner of the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Instrumental Album of the Year, Kaori brings elegance, emotion, and aloha to every event.
From weddings and memorials to birthdays, graduations, and corporate events, she creates unforgettable moments with live piano music tailored to your vision.
Fluent in English and Japanese, Kaori offers solo or duo performances (with singer/guitarist), and can provide keyboard and sound system if needed.
Based in Hawaiʻi — available to travel worldwide.
Let’s make your event magical. 🌺🎹
2 reviews
Melise N.
February 12, 2024Kaori was exceptional to work with. She was so communicative and proactive in the planning process. We booked her only a month away and she was so accommodating and professional. She coordinated with the venue, sound crew, and ourselves to make sure the event went seamless. Come wedding day her music was perfect in every way and really set the ceremony tone! My now husband is also a pianist/keyboardist, who has a lot of experience in the music industry and he also praises Kaori for her amazing talent and wide range of songs to choose from! Needless to say, Kaori was a gem to have and work with for our wedding!
Hired as: Pianist
Chong
April 14, 2022Coco did a fabulous job providing delightful piano music for our function. A real professional knowing exactly what was appropriate to enhance the vibe of the function. Thanks so much!
Hired as: Pianist
Kaori "Coco" Kawabuchi
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating. I really appreciate you and your family and friends. Please let me know what I can do for you in the future function in Hawai’i!
Mahalo Mr.Chong :)
Price range: $250-$2000
Languages: English, Japanese
What to Expect
When you hire Kaori Kawabuchi, you can expect a heartfelt, professional, and unforgettable musical experience tailored to your event. Whether you’re planning a wedding, memorial, corporate function, or private celebration, Kaori brings elegance, emotion, and aloha to every stage.
A 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning pianist, Kaori is known for her soulful, cinematic style that blends classical, Hawaiian, gospel, pop, and R&B influences. She performs solo piano or as part of a duo (with singer or instrumentalist), and can provide a full sound system and keyboard if needed.
Clients love her for her warm presence, musical versatility, and ability to read the room—enhancing each moment, whether it’s a quiet, intimate setting or a lively gathering. She is also fluent in Japanese and can accommodate bilingual or multicultural events with grace and care.
Expect seamless communication, professional setup, beautiful music, and a performer who truly cares about making your event meaningful and memorable.
Kaori Kawabuchi – Pianist, Composer, Producer
Kaori Kawabuchi is a Japanese-born pianist and composer based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Known for her emotional, cinematic sound, she blends classical roots with Hawaiian, gospel, R&B, and pop influences. In 2025, she received the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Instrumental Album of the Year with her original piano album Piano in Paradise.
Kaori began playing piano at age three, raised in a musical household where her mother was a professional singer and her father played guitar. Her performances have reached audiences from Tokyo to New York and Sydney, and she now shares her music at weddings, memorials, cultural events, and luxury venues across Hawaiʻi and beyond.
She performs both solo and in collaboration with vocalists and instrumentalists, offering custom arrangements for each event. Whether in an intimate gathering or concert setting, Kaori’s music brings comfort, beauty, and connection through every note.
Technical Requirements
– If the venue has a piano, please confirm it is in working condition and tuned.
– If no piano is available, I can bring a professional-grade keyboard upon request.
– For larger events, access to a power outlet is required if I provide my own equipment.
– I can also bring a compact sound system if needed (please let me know in advance).
– Shaded or covered area preferred for outdoor gigs to protect equipment from sun or rain.
– Setup time is typically 30–45 minutes before performance.
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Honolulu, HI
Saturday
Graduation
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Kaneohe, HI
Tuesday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Honolulu, HI
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
12:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Kapolei, HI
My music is shaped by emotional storytelling, cultural roots, and melodies that speak straight to the heart.
My earliest classical inspiration came from Chopin, whose expressive piano works taught me how to translate feeling into sound. I’ve also been deeply moved by powerful vocalists like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion — artists who showed me how to pour soul into every note.
Growing up, I was enchanted by Disney music — the melodies, the magic, the way a single song could carry so much emotion. That influence still lives in my arrangements today, especially when I play for weddings and families.
Performing gospel in New York led me to artists like Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin, while living in Hawaiʻi brought me close to the sounds of Kealiʻi Reichel, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, and my partner Thomson “Kiko” Enos, who continues to inspire me with his Hawaiian reggae roots.
I also draw from the cinematic beauty of Joe Hisaishi and Yiruma, blending atmosphere and heart into my original compositions.
These influences come together in my playing — a blend of classical emotion, gospel soul, island warmth, cinematic flow, and just a little Disney magic. 🌈🎹✨
Stage and Setup Requirements – Access to power outlet (if I’m bringing my own keyboard/sound) – One armless chair or small piano bench – Covered/shaded area if the event is outdoors (to protect equipment) – Minimum 6’x6’ space for solo setup – For duo pe
Pianist
