About the Aloha Piano Festival
Founded in 2006 by pianist Lisa Nakamichi, the Aloha International Piano Festival (AIPF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching Hawai‘i’s musical community through education, performance, mentorship and artistic exchange.
For two decades, AIPF has connected pianists in Hawai‘i with distinguished artists and teachers from around the world, creating opportunities to learn, perform and experience music at the highest level. What began as an annual festival has grown into a broader commitment to music education and artistic opportunity, bringing together local, national and international musicians while remaining deeply rooted in the Hawai‘i community.
Today, AIPF carries out its mission through three core programs: the Aloha International Piano Academy, the Ke‘alohi International Piano Competition, and Aloha Piano Lab.
The Aloha International Piano Academy brings pianists together in Honolulu for an immersive experience centered on study, performance and musical connection. Through private lessons and masterclasses with distinguished Festival Artists, participants deepen their engagement with the piano while public performance provides an important opportunity to share their artistry with audiences and fellow musicians.
Established in 2022, the Ke‘alohi International Piano Competition connects Hawai‘i with an international community of exceptional pianists. Held every three years in Honolulu, the competition welcomes pianists ages 18–29 for multiple rounds of solo performance, culminating with three finalists performing with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra.
Launched in 2026, Aloha Piano Lab extends AIPF’s educational mission directly into Hawai‘i’s local piano community. The free education and mentorship initiative gives Hawai‘i resident pianists access to distinguished performing artists and teachers through focused masterclass experiences. Designed to serve age- and experience-appropriate groups, Piano Lab creates opportunities for artistic growth, connection and performance while removing program fees as a barrier to participation.
Throughout its history, AIPF has welcomed internationally renowned artists and teachers including Jon Nakamatsu, Fabio Bidini, Kevin Kenner and Sara Davis Buechner, while nurturing hundreds of pianists and sharing exceptional musical experiences with audiences across the islands. Its alumni have gone on to perform and teach around the world, carrying with them the experiences and relationships formed in Hawai‘i.
At its heart, AIPF remains committed to the belief that meaningful encounters between artists, students, teachers and audiences can inspire artistic growth and strengthen a musical community. Through its evolving programs, AIPF continues to create opportunities for pianists to learn from extraordinary artists, perform for audiences, connect with one another and experience the spirit of music-making in Hawai‘i.
Lisa Nakamichi, Founder & Artistic Director
Pianist Lisa Nakamichi, known for her interpretations of Mozart, was described as “born to play Mozart” by the Honolulu Advertiser following a concerto performance with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Her successful Tokyo solo recital debut, sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Culture, launched her career in Japan. She has since appeared in concerto performances throughout the country with orchestras including the New Star Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo, Kyushu Philharmonic in Nagasaki, Kyoto Symphony, and Hiroshima Symphony. Her appearance with the Hiroshima Symphony was praised for her “brilliant Mozart playing.”
In March 2012, Nakamichi was the featured soloist for the inaugural concert of the newly revived Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro
Naoto Otomo. She previously appeared as concerto soloist with the Honolulu Symphony more than a dozen times, with the Honolulu Advertiser describing one of her Mozart concerto performances as “above all beautiful.” She has also collaborated with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony in a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as part of a concert celebrating Louis Vuitton’s 150th anniversary.concerto soloist with the Honolulu Symphony more than a dozen times, with the Honolulu Advertiser describing one of her Mozart concerto performances as “above all beautiful.” She has also collaborated with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony in a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as part of a concert celebrating Louis Vuitton’s 150th anniversary.
In March 2012, Nakamichi was the featured soloist for the inaugural concert of the newly revived Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Naoto Otomo. She previously appeared as concerto soloist with the Honolulu Symphony more than a dozen times, with the Honolulu Advertiser describing one of her Mozart concerto performances as “above all beautiful.” She has also collaborated with the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony in a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as part of a concert celebrating Louis Vuitton’s 150th anniversary.
Nakamichi has appeared in recital in major cities throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. She has been invited by dignitaries and diplomats to perform solo recitals at venues including the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C., the residence of the Consul General of Japan in Honolulu, and, in September 2011, the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Austria in Vienna. Other recital appearances include Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo, The Symphony Hall in Osaka, Eroica Saal in Vienna, Libby Hall at the University of Utah, and the University of Alaska Anchorage, among others.
As a juror, Nakamichi has served on the juries of the Cooper International Piano Competition in Cleveland, the Waring International Piano Competition in Palm Springs, and the Alaska Music Teachers Association competition, where she also conducted masterclasses. In 2018, she served on the jury for the national finals of the PTNA Piano Competition (Piano Teachers’ National Association) in Tokyo.
Nakamichi received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Martin Canin, and earned her doctoral degree from Stony Brook University. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Aloha International Piano Festival in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.