Live Music + Polynesian Entertainment + DJ
$350 starting price
Big Island, Hawaii
Service area
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Details
Instruments
Guitar
Keyboard
Percussion
Piano
Saxophone
Trumpet
Ukulele
Vocals
Music Genres
Classical
Country
Dance
Disco
EDM
Folk
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Latin
Pop
R&B
Rock
World Music
Music Services
Live Music
Recorded Music
Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Reception
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
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Meet the team
Bula Akamu
Owner
Bula is Hawaii's premier wedding musician, leading the state in the most 5 star reviews from hundreds of wedding couples like you. He is a recording artist and song writer specializing in ‘ukulele, guitar, and slack key guitar for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Bula's soulful voice has been known to draw tears during wedding ceremonies. His main focus is on Hawaiian and Contemporary music but plays something from all genres and will learn any of your wedding songs by request! Bula is based on the Big Island, Hawaii but also frequently travels to Oahu, Maui, Kauai and mainland US.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0121 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Bula and his team, including Ash, received overwhelmingly positive reviews for their wedding music services in Hawaii. From ceremonies on the beach at sunrise to receptions, they were praised for their beautiful live music, smooth transitions between live music and DJ sets, and professionalism. Reviewers highlighted Bula’s responsiveness, accommodating nature with song requests, and seamless coordination during the planning process and on the day of the event. The team's attention to detail, personalized touch, energy, and talent were all highly commended, making weddings unforgettable and magical experiences.Review photos
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Dillon J
5.0
1/19/2025
We recently had the pleasure of booking Bula and some hula dancers through The Knot for our sunrise wedding in Kailua-Kona, and we couldn't have been happier with the experience. From start to finish, everything was flawless, and the music was absolutely magical!
Our ceremony took place on the beach at sunrise, and the vibe was perfect for a romantic and intimate setting. Bula not only arrived early to get everything set up but also tailored the song selection to fit the mood we were looking for. The combination of acoustic ukulele and soulful vocals was the perfect soundtrack to our special moment.
What really stood out was Bula's attention to detail and flexibility. We had a few specific song requests, including some Spanish songs, and he was so accommodating, ensuring every song was played at just the right time. The acoustics of the beach with the gentle ocean waves in the background made it all feel like a dream!
Throughout the whole planning process, Bula was communicative and professional. He took the time to understand our vision, and it showed in the way he brought it to life.
If you’re looking for a wedding singer in Hawaii, especially for something as unique as a sunrise ceremony in Kailua-Kona, we HIGHLY recommend Bula. He truly made our wedding unforgettable. The music was one of the highlights of the day, and we’re so grateful we found him through The Knot. Thank you again for making our day so special! 🌅🎶💍
Bryana-Marie E
5.0
1/02/2025
When initially planning our wedding we weren’t sure about hiring a live musician, but I’m glad that we did. Although we (bride/groom) weren’t able to enjoy his music during cocktail hour, our guests said that he did an amazing job. Thank you Bula for making our night special and memorable.
Any questions?
Francesca P
5.0
1/01/2025
Choosing Bula for our wedding reception was one of the easiest decisions we made. When we initially reached out, his response time was lightning fast, and then his booking and music-info gathering processes were super straightforward and painless. Honestly, I don't think he could have made it any easier for us. Our reception wasn't traditional, and more just like a big cocktail party, so there wasn't a set schedule of events to follow. Bula had no problem making that work - our guests were welcomed to the party by his lovely lei greeter and Bula's buttery smooth vocals, and then he made a seamless transition over to fun DJ set after sunset that cranked up the energy and got everyone dancing (even in the rain!). 10/10 would recommend!
Kristine T
5.0
7/09/2024
It was an honour to meet Bula last month (June 2024) in Hilo. We were so blessed with his talent. He beautifully played our requested songs on top of his amazing voice! He also played more Hawaiian music which made it more memorable!
We love his energy, his vibe, his aloha spirit. Our ceremony by the waterfalls would never be the same without Bula. Bula, Mahalo for making it so magical, so romantic, and for filling the ceremony with so much love. Words are not enough to say how wonderful you truly are and we are in awe with your talent. We hope to see you again.
Dean and Kristine
Annaliese P
5.0
5/05/2024
I cannot speak highly enough of the exceptional service provided by Bula and their team for our special event. From the moment we reached out, they were incredibly responsive and accommodating, making the entire planning process a breeze. Their attention to detail was evident when they provided us with an extremely comprehensive schedule for the day of the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
Despite having to travel from the Big island with their team and all their equipment, they arrived on Maui seamlessly and were fully prepared to handle our unique needs. With two different locations boasting varying power requirements, they expertly set up without a hitch, alleviating any concerns we had.
The live music provided by Bula was nothing short of amazing. They perfectly set the tone for both our ceremony and reception, with music that resonated with our guests so much that they didn't want to leave the dance floor. Bula effortlessly incorporated all of our suggestions, ensuring that our vision was brought to life flawlessly. Additionally, my husband had a special surprise song he sang during his vows and Bula supported with live music making it truly special and unique. The conch shell during the ceremony literally brought our guests to tears (happy ones) and the hula and fire shows were absolutely breathtaking and a must. It truly was a highlight for us. Last, but not least, the lei greeters really helped set the tone for the beginning of the ceremony which was also loved by us and all of our guests.
Moreover, their team was an absolute pleasure to work with. Their professionalism, combined with their warm and friendly demeanor, made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free. I wholeheartedly recommend Bula to anyone in need of top-notch entertainment for their event. They truly exceeded all expectations and made our day unforgettable. They truly brought the “ha” (breath of life) to our event and hope to have an excuse to work with them again.
Judy O
5.0
2/25/2024
Picking a musician and DJ for a destination wedding can be a daunting task. Reading positive reviews can help allay any doubts when making that decision and I’m hoping that this review will do just that. I chose Bula because he epitomizes the spirit of aloha and his voice is so beautiful. Walking towards our wedding arch and hearing his angelic voice singing with the waves accompanying him just added to the joy of our wedding day. He and Ash made our wedding so special. I sent him a list of songs that my guests had requested and told him a bit about each person and he really made the night so fun by calling them out and getting them up on the dance floor. He provides everything you need for a night to remember. If you’re not sure who to hire, let me help: hire Bula! You’ll thank me later.
Lauren R
5.0
2/22/2024
I loved every moment of getting to work with Bula and Ash. It was so great having the diverse options between traditional DJ style vs live music when having Bula play at your wedding.
First of all, can we take a moment to recognize how amazing his voice is?! This made my Hawaiian wedding feel even more traditional and genuine. I had never saw myself having a first dance to live music, but having this as an option, made it so much more special for us.
Having Bula and Ash through the whole day made everything so seamless and took the stress out of having to plan for either multiple vendors or figuring out A/V or sound systems for the ceremony. Knowing that it was all in their very capable hands allowed me to be fully present for every moment of my wedding. I highly recommend booking them for both the ceremony and reception.
I chose to leave everything up to Bula for cocktail hour/dinner music and he did not disappoint. Bula is great at reading the room and choosing what energy level is best. Not to mention, the level of depth the intake form goes into. That really helps set up the event for success.
From start to finish, the whole process was so easy and helped me feel so confident as a bride. My wedding planners introduced me to Bula and I couldn't have been happier. There was no doubt once reviewing that this was who I wanted for my day! All my initial questions were answered in a very timely manner. Leading up to the event, everything was taken care of and I didn't have to spend any time on the day of worrying about any logistics!
It is very clear how passionate they are about what they do! It shows in the energy during the day, throughout the different events. We were very lucky to work with Bula and Ash and all future couples will be too!
Chau T
5.0
12/22/2023
Bula and Ash are lovely and genuine people. I’m so glad they were part of our day. They traveled to Oahu and working with them was so easy. I highly recommend incorporating Bula’s original music in your playlist. It has been months since our wedding and I still think about how magical they made our day.
Maddie b
5.0
11/26/2023
No need to search any further for that special artist! Bula and his partner Ash were absolutely incredible at our wedding! They made everything run smoothly and were so accommodating. We had our wedding at Oahu Wedding Villas and Venue, and Bula flew all the way from Maui to make our day extra special. From my young cousins to my grandparents, everyone was dancing and singing their hearts out. I kept hearing how amazing Bula was! Having them there truly added so much value to our night. Thank you, Bula and Ash, for making our wedding unforgettable!!
Helen P
5.0
11/12/2023
Bula and Ash are truly amazing! Since the very beginning, Ash made planning very easy and comfortable! She is so professional and kind! Bula has the most genuine energy, always smiling! And his voice is beautiful! He is very talented! We absolutely loved having him perform at our wedding with the ukulele and later DJ. The night was seamless! Everything completely exceeded our vision! Forever grateful for this team! Our wedding day was a dream and will always live in our hearts! A genuine and profound THANK YOU! ❤️
Kyle P
5.0
11/12/2023
Bula and Ash are amazing! The memories of Bula singing in the lush jungle of Oahu for our wedding is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life!
I highly recommend hiring them. They were super easy to work with, always responded to emails in a timely manner, and put on an amazing performance. All of our wedding guests were blown away by this man’s voice!!
Audrey T
5.0
9/16/2023
Bula and his partner Ash were one of the highlights of our Big Island wedding. So responsive when first reaching out and their experience working with couples during the planning phase made me feel so much better. Had great music in selection options and insights about how the entertainment could all come together to set the right mood for the guests and make the day full of positive memories. Bula was such an awesome DJ- I’ll never forget the jokes he made and how his voice made everyone remember they were in Hawaii and how much it is a special place. Thank you thank you thank you!
David S
5.0
9/14/2023
Bula provided the both live entertainment during the ceremony/wedding in addition to DJing the reception for my wedding on 07/29/23. Not only was he a talented musician but also a very friendly guy that was easy to work with. He had a great selection of music to choose from and also learned a new song for my wife to dance a hula to which was the best gift of all. Mahalo Bula and Ash! We were so glad to have you on our special day!
Rachel R
5.0
9/14/2023
Bula was absolutely incredible for our big island wedding. There was no one else even on the list for us, it had to be Bula. In fact, Bula and Ash were my favorite vendors to work with. His songs are so beautiful and my husband and I had such a fun time picking out our playlist (he knows so many songs!) The lights, fog machine, set up, duo during dinner - everything was perfection!
I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for Bula learning to play E Pili Mai so I could surprise my husband with a wedding hula I learned in secret over several months. I was so nervous but Bula helped me to feel confident and deliver such a beautiful dance and gift. My husband cried like a baby. Mahalo!!!!
Meredith Z
5.0
7/25/2023
We hired Bula to provide entertainment for our Night Before party and all the events on our wedding day, from ceremony, dinner and after party. In all, we likely saw a dozen participants and performers during the weekend. It was by far the most professional group we have hoped to work with. Bula’s beautiful voice and sounds, along with other musicians and the beauty of the dancers made our “vintage island wedding” theme come to life!! The After Party DJ was off the hook! Our guests closed down the house at midnight.
I had an idea of our vibe in mind and made a few suggestions, but trusted Bula and Ash to fill in the rest!
It was perfect! I wish we could do it all over again. Thank you for a memorable weekend! Meredith Zohar
Julia D
5.0
4/24/2023
It is hard for us to even put into words how magical this experience with Bula was. From start to finish, it was a smooth, easy and FUN process. Bula incorporates the magic of Hawaii and the Spirit of Aloha throughout the entire process; from planning, through the Big Day, and beyond. Our guest have not stopped raving about how amazing the wedding entertainment was, and we can’t imagine what our day would have been like without Bula and Ash leading it. We highly, highly recommend them for your special day. Our experience with them is sealed in our hearts forever!
Michael M
5.0
3/05/2023
My now husband, Bryan, and I knew we wanted a live singer and ukulele player to perform for our Kauai wedding ceremony and reception, but little did we know we would land the best entertainer in Hawaii! After a lot of research, I came across Bula’s YouTube account and was instantly mesmerized by his smooth voice, his outstanding ukulele and guitar abilities, his hyped MC and DJ sets, and his team of some of the most skilled hula and fire knife dancers I have ever seen. The best part was all of these things were combined into just one entertainment package!
We were ecstatic to find out Bula was available for our wedding date, and we opted for a package that included it all! The process leading up to the wedding was extremely organized thanks to Bula’s wife, Ash. She provided a very detailed questionnaire for us to complete to get to know us better as a couple. Additionally, we set up a virtual call the week before the wedding to iron out last-minute details and timelines. One thing that I found especially attractive about Bula’s package was the seamless travel and accommodation arrangements. Bula’s team took care of their own flights, housing, and transportation of equipment from the Big Island to Kauai.
Fast forward to the wedding day, and all I can say is WOW! Everything about Bula and his team far exceeded our expectations. Hearing Bula sing as our wedding party walked down the aisle had me in tears. I have listened to our processional songs on Bula’s YouTube channel nonstop since our wedding. The hula show was one of our favorite parts of the day. At the end of the show, the two dancers brought me and Bryan up to teach us some hula moves, and it was a blast! I don’t think we have ever laughed as hard.
When it came time to open the dance floor, Bula knew how to get the entire room to our feet. We absolutely loved the music selection and smooth song transitions. There was nonstop dancing for hours, and our guests couldn’t stop talking about how great Bula’s DJing was. We ended the night with two members of Bula’s team doing the best fire knife dance I have ever seen! They brought me up and let me touch the flame with my finger, hand, and mouth.
To sum it up, you NEED to have Bula be a part of your wedding. They travel to the different Hawaiian Islands and even the US mainland, so there’s no reason not to!
Jenn D
5.0
2/21/2023
When our wedding planner asked us what our top priorities were for our special day, MUSIC was at the very top of our list! Someone referred us to Bula, and as soon as we listened to some of his music and learned about his story we were completely sold--not only is he an incredible musician, but he has this great energy and spirit that really helped set the vibe of our wedding! We had him perform during our ceremony and cocktail hour, he DJ-ed during the reception, and served as MC throughout the whole evening (plus we added in some fire and hula dancers that wowed our guests). Everything was so perfect! Also, from a logistics perspective, his manager Ash was super helpful in coordinating the layout, sound and lighting with our planner - and they also did a great job of catering the music to our specific taste. Both Ash and Bula really went the extra effort to make sure everything was perfect and stress-free on the day of. Hope to hire them again at our next big event!
Geoff M
5.0
2/02/2023
We made and excellent choice ! We had heard great things about Bula (and Ashly ) as both a performer and as an emcee. We hired Bula for our wedding and reception and couldn’t have been more pleased.
He took the time to “interview” us (bride and groom) a week before the event to get a good understanding of not only the atmosphere we wanted, but to learn more about our guests and what we thought they’d like and would “energize “ them. The result was a perfectly paced reception with not only wonderful music, but an engaging , funny and articulate emcee. I can’t recommend him highly enough!
Marnelie P
5.0
1/15/2023
This review is overdue. We had our wedding back in October of 2022 and Bula and Ashley did a phenomenal job in coordinating the entertainment for our wedding. Bula was great as our performer, DJ, and emcee. Our guests were very impressed and enjoyed the overall experience. Thank you Bula and Ashley!
Elizabeth L
5.0
12/04/2022
We had a great experience with Bula and Ashley! We hired them after hearing the music and video samples from their website. They were already highly rated by our planner on Big Island, so we were pretty confident in choosing them. The whole process was relatively simple considering how we communicated via email and online documents only. On the day of the wedding, Bula was set up on time, coordinated well with our planner, and was flexible with moving his stage during different parts of the day. We thoroughly enjoyed the songs that were chosen by us during the ceremony and by Bula during dinner time. He did a fantastic job and we were so glad to have chosen them. If we decide to go to Big Island for another anniversary, we would definitely hire Bula again!
Kathy C
5.0
11/07/2022
We recently celebrated our 25 th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal on the beach. It was just my husband and myself. Bula did an absolutely amazing job. I will never forget dancing to “I want to grow old with you” by Adam Sandler. Bula’s voice is wonderfully melodious and his talent in playing the ukulele superb. Both he and his wife and manager, Ash are warm, professional and very easy to work with. He has an extensive selection of songs to choose from and we easily found our selections. I highly recommend Bula music and would not hesitate to hire him. We are so grateful you were able to join us in helping to make our day even more special. Mahalo!
Kelli Y
5.0
11/01/2022
I'll be honest, I don't remember most of the music Bula played because I was too in my head getting married! However, communication and coordination with his team before the wedding was great. He had a long list of great songs to choose from and you have the option to have him learn songs for an additional fee per song. We requested he learn 1 song for us. His rendition of the song was so nice and moving, and that's the only song I remember from the wedding!
Colin C
5.0
10/24/2022
Bula did an excellent job at our wedding. Great guy and great music!
Taylor C
5.0
10/24/2022
Bula did an incredible job at our wedding! One of the things I was very impressed by was how he transitioned songs so seamlessly. He has an incredibly large selection of songs to choose from. Our guests were raving about him all night. He was part of the reason our day was the best day ever!
Christina C
5.0
10/14/2022
Bula and his team were perfect to work with from start to finish. They added the perfect Hawaiian ambiance to our beach wedding. We couldn’t have asked for a better musician, hula dancer and videographer! They are the complete package!
Jenni T
5.0
7/28/2022
Bula is perfection. He and his wife make a great team. They are attentive, professional, and so incredibly warm. Bula’s music made our wedding day absolutely magical. I wish we could do it all over again!
Sean B
5.0
7/24/2022
What a fantastic choice it was to have Bula as our musician, MC, DJ, and entertainment coordinator! My wife and I feel very fortunate to have booked Bula and his team and I know she benefited tremendously from the run of show/itinerary planning that is a part of the package we booked. Honestly Bula and his team made our wedding night. Our guests cannot stop talking about the fire knife performances, the seamless coordination, and his rockstar DJ skills!
Lauren L
5.0
7/22/2022
Bula and his team are incredible! We had the most seamless entertainment transitions, the most beautiful soloist music during our ceremony and reception, and the most fantastic fire knife dancing performance we have ever seen. Bula even DJs - and let me tell you - he crushed our song requests and kept the party alive throughout the evening. I can truly not recommend him enough. Dynamic coordination throughout the year to plan our special day and he beyond delivers on the day of. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making our day so very unique and memorable.
Khanh N
5.0
7/20/2022
We had our wedding at Lanikuhonua and had booked Bula for our cocktail hour and procession song, and it was magical. The beautiful beach view and Bula’s soulful voice along with his guitar play just set the atmosphere for the most perfect romantic wedding we could have asked for. Bula’s songs including his original songs were loved by both our Hawaii local guests as well as our mainland guests. Bula and his team made the song selection process very easy and stress-free (which I’m grateful for as a destination wedding bride planning a wedding amidst all the Covid restrictions back in December 2021). Bula went above and beyond to even did a little MC-ing in between cocktail hour and ceremony so that our wedding went smoothly and we so appreciate his talents and professionalism. We will treasure this beautiful memory of the dreamy view of the glistening ocean, the palm trees, and Bula’s soothing voice and guitar notes only made it all more perfect.
Amee H
5.0
6/20/2022
What an amazing experience working with Bula Music!! The team was fantastic to engage with from initial email to a gorgeous, personalized vlog and every step in between. They were super responsive, had everything well organized, and made our special day that much sweeter by executing cleanly and professionally on everything. It was perfect!!! We chose one of their largest packages and added on additional things such as hula dancers, fire dancers, conch shell blower. Guests commented all night long about how amazing the singing, guitar playing, and music was – so many steps above other weddings they had attended. Add in the amazing lighting, mics and sound system, and it was a complete party in one vendor. I highly recommend Bula Music for weddings – but also any other event you may have – it was the best spent part of our budget!
Mary Grace L
5.0
6/15/2022
We had a destination wedding at the Fairmont Orchid, Big Island and we were lucky enough to have Bula available for our wedding day after being postponed for a year due to the pandemic. He played during our ceremony and cocktail hour, and all our guests loved him!! His voice and ukulele/guitar skills are AMAZING!! We're so happy Bula was a part of our special day!!!
Kristi P
5.0
5/04/2022
Planning a wedding in Hawaii from California is hard! Bula came recommended by the resort we were married at. He was perfect for our intimate, family only wedding. He does it all! Announced us coming in, sang at our ceremony and reception during dinner, then DJ for the dancing! He had his own equipment which was so nice and more than I had expected. He has an extensive song list - made it hard to choose from so many great songs. His partner, Ash Lee was also great and did a VLOG which was such a nice and unexpected touch. They made our wedding extra special, can’t recommend enough!
Lester K
5.0
4/27/2022
Bula played and performed at my wedding at the Mauna Lani, and my wife and I, along with our guests, were blown away by Bula’s infectious energy and good vibes! He was the highlight of our special day, playing tunes at our ceremony, and then coordinating a special night of hula dancing and song at our beachside reception! All our guests raved about the wonderful entertainment! Bula graduated from one of the top music conservatories in the nation and it showed in the high quality and placemaking musical set he delivered - the spirit / essence of Aloha and Hawaii really shone through! We also loved his all-white colored equipment and lighting set - which matches well with any wedding decor. His manager / wife Ash was also fantastic to work with and quick to respond to our emails! Would highly recommend Bula / Ash to any couple looking to get married on the Big Island. We planned our wedding virtually and Bula / Ash made the planning seamless. He wowed our guests and exceeded our expectations - we’re so glad to have Bula / Ash as part of our special day!
Ryan R
5.0
4/27/2022
Bula is a seasoned professional that brought elegance, happiness, and a great party atmosphere to my wedding. Very personable and easy to work with. His singing captures the moment and DJ' abilities make you never want to stop dancing.
Lindy R
5.0
4/26/2022
We came across one of Bula's music videos and his voice made us watch all the other videos he had posted. We start researching and found out he performs at weddings. Let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. We were thrilled Bula would travel to Oahu where our wedding venue was.
We got the Pa'ina In Paradise Package where Bula also MC'ed our evening. Everything was flawless. Bula and Ash are genuinely such great people to work with. We were a bit worry no one would be dancing and let's just say we have to kick people off the dance floor to end the night. Just watching our wedding day video clips make me what to dance. It was that much fun! Bula's talents were above and beyond what we could've asked for. We are grateful for Bula and his team for making our biggest day, the best day. Trust us, book him!
Carl W
5.0
4/14/2022
Thank you Bula for a most excellent evening that exceeded expectations. Your partner Ash was so helpful in the technology area. She had me mic’d up in short order so I didn’t have to hold the microphone while I read my vows to my soon to be bride. The music you selected based on the demographics of our crowd was well received witnessed by the crowd on the dance floor. You really were able to pick some excellent tunes. The hula dancers were fantastic. Let me say this Bula and Ash: your music and personalities made the night memorable!!! Thanks again. Mahalo. Carl and Erika
Marie I
5.0
4/13/2022
Theo and I just had our wedding at the Mauna Lani and Bula played for both our ceremony and the wedding reception. What a treat. Bula is such a talented artist, MC, and DJ. All of our guests couldn't stop talking about him the next day. I can't thank Bula and Ash enough for such a smooth planning process as well as an unforgettable evening. Thank you!!
Brittany S
5.0
3/21/2022
Bula was OUTSTANDING to work with. From the moment I started chatting with the team, I felt more at ease planning the wedding. Having to book venders for a destination wedding felt very overwhelming but Bula (Ashley) literally went above and beyond even the service that they were providing to help make the wedding what it was. From vender advice to sending pictures and videos of our venue, even going as far as to accept packages for us to help with our destination wedding. I was continually blown away but the generosity of their time and willingness to help! This all was before the actual event day.
Wedding day would have not been the same without Bula. The ceremony music was absolutely beautiful and was exactly what we had hoped it would be. Bula carried the same vibe to the reception where the guests danced the night away! Bula was even willing to stay an extra hour to keep the party going. Every guest commented on how much they loved Bula & the entertainment (hula dancer and fire knife dancer)!
I recommend Bula without any hesitation! You will not be disappointed and you’ll be so thankful you decided to go with him and his wife. They were both professional and also relaxed and fun! Helpful and willing to give advice while also respectful & flexible and willing to go with the flow. I am so blessed to have met them and to have had the pleasure to work with them.
10000/10
Jennifer H
5.0
11/14/2021
Bula is an absolutely amazing artist with an incredible voice and wonderful personality. He is so easy to work with and he is such a great entertainer. From the moment I heard his voice, I knew that we wanted him to be our musician at our wedding. Then the pandemic hit and we were forced to reschedule several times. Through it all, Bula and his manager were super understanding , flexible, and accommodating. It was so stressful trying to plan a wedding during a pandemic but I could not have asked for a better musician and manager team. They gave me some popular song choices and while I told them my general music genre preferences, I ultimately trusted Bula. I am so so thankful for Bula in making our wedding a magical day for us and our guests.
Bula has an amazing voice - our guests were so impressed! My only regret is that I didn't book him longer because we were preoccupied with wedding photos. My recommendation is to have Bula there for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and extend into dinner time so you can enjoy his performance!
Anna H
5.0
11/02/2021
Bula was absolutely amazing! We worked with him for almost two years due to Covid and having to postpone our wedding in 2020. Over the course of the two years we worked with him, we had a few changes to our wedding size which impacted the services we needed from Bula. Throughout all the changes, he and his team were nothing but understanding and professional. For part of the planning process most of our communication with his team was through the on-site coordinator at the Marriott, however we were able to speak to his manager the week before the wedding to iron out all of the last bit of details, and she was just amazing. Bula and his team were nothing but professional, they were happy to answer numerous questions that we had, and we felt very comfortable with them and very confident that they understood the vibe and feel we were aiming to have during the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.
Bula absolutely exceeded any expectations we had. Not only does he have an amazing voice and skill, but he is warm and personable and just made us feel at home during our reception through his music. He engaged with our guests and just by the atmosphere we knew that everyone was relaxed and having a great time, which is exactly what we'd hoped for. All night and even the next day, we received so many compliments on how great Bula was and how much everyone enjoyed his live music.
Bula's voice and musicianship are exceptional and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a musician for their ceremony and/or reception. You will not be disappointed!
Jessica R
5.0
9/11/2021
We got married in mid July 2021 on the Big Island. We booked Bula at the beginning of the year, and through all the Covid updates and restrictions, Bula and Ash were so responsive and helpful with feeling confident about our big day. Bula's music during our ceremony and cocktail hour took our wedding to the next level. He plays with such sincerity and was instrumental to creating depth through his music while I walked down the aisle and during our ceremony. My guests absolutely loved his performance, as did my husband and I. Bula made our big moment so special and unique, and our cocktail hour spirited and upbeat with his talented flair! I highly recommend Bula for your ceremony and reception!
Julia D
5.0
8/10/2021
My husband and I were just married at the Hilton Waikola. Bula was listed as one of their preferred vendors. We hired him to play during before, during, and after our Ceremony. He set the mood perfectly and didn't miss a beat! My grandmother walked me down the isle. So, we were a bit slower than anticipated. He was able to lengthen our song without anyone (but myself) noticing. He made our day so special!
Krista S
5.0
6/23/2021
Absolutely loved having Bula for our ceremony and cocktail hour. Having Bula perform truly elevated our event and our guests loved listening to him! Our wedding wouldn't really have had the same vibe without him.
Monica M
5.0
5/28/2021
Bula is such a talented musician! He sang while I walked down the aisle at my wedding and even during the cocktail hour at our reception. He was a total hit with our guests and I highly recommend! He is really professional and will add the perfect touch to your special day. He also knows a lot of songs!
Mark R
5.0
5/26/2021
ula was absolutely amazing. Our guests could not stop praising his music. We did our research before deciding on Bula, and I can definitely tell you the difference of having a Berkeley school of music trained musician made a huge difference. I truly believe Bula’s voice and talent as a musician was the missing piece to our perfect wedding. I cannot recommend him enough. Cannot wait to hear his voice again. Thank you so much Bula, our first dance will forever be one of our fondest memories.
Kiara I
5.0
4/21/2021
Bula was amazing! He made our special day even more special. We couldn’t be more grateful to have him in our wedding. He was easy to work with and helped us make the whole ceremony even more magical with his beautiful voice.
Andrew L
5.0
4/21/2021
Bula was the best singer. We were so lucky he was available for our wedding. He arrived early, and set up and really created a beautiful mood with his amazing voice. He even stayed and played more requests. We were teary eyed with how beautiful his music was. He was kind and easy to work with. Our wedding was Saturday , April 17, 2021 at Kohanaiki on the Big Island.
Hope G
5.0
12/16/2020
Bula was great- he was able to take all my special song requests and learn them in advance. He really made our musical vibe come to life for our Hawaii wedding. He also showed up no complaints right prior to COVID lockdowns, and he was happy to be a part of our big day. Wouldn’t have been the same if he had cancelled on us! 100% would recommend.
VERONICA H
5.0
12/16/2020
Look no further!! Bula is the best of the best! Having a weeding during COVID had a lot of uncertainties, but Bula was flexible through the changes. We originally booked Bula to play during the ceremony and reception, but loved him so much we asked him to stay for the whole wedding. He has a wide range of songs to choose from, something for everyone. In addition you can request songs to play from the iPod. It was everything we dreamed of and wouldn’t consider anyone else if I were to do it all again!!
Rosie G
5.0
11/29/2020
When we planned our wedding we knew we wanted to have live Hawaiian music during the ceremony and the cocktail hour. Choosing Bula was one of the very first decisions we made in our planning. Bula took our wedding to the next level. His beautiful voice, skill with guitar, and excellent song choices all set the mood and helped everyone relax. He helped our wedding feel dreamy and romantic. We did our first dance to his rendition of Perfect by Ed Sheeran. We walked down the aisle to All of Me by John Legend. His covers and his original songs are all lovely. We were so thrilled that Bula played at our wedding. His energy and his music were a truly delightful element of our celebration.
Jason B
5.0
11/28/2020
Bula and his team were everything we wanted in a musician. They communicated great, were flexible, and most importantly professional. Couldnt ask for a better experience. We are fans for life. So glad we made the choice to include Bula in our special day.
Owen K
5.0
7/01/2020
We flew from Australia and it's always hard knowing in advance what to expect. We couldn't have asked for a better musician than Bula for our wedding. Not only was his website an incredible insight into what we were getting, his communication, accomodation and overall delivery helped make our day. He played at our ceremony and reception and we knew when we signed up that we could leave him to it and didn't have to worry about anything. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone. Thanks Bula!!
Kate H
5.0
12/20/2019
I own a local wedding venue and book Bula all the time and love recommending him to clients. He is an incredibly talented musician, a true professional and a good guy. He’s not cheap, but just like anything else, you get what you pay for.
Rick N
5.0
12/20/2019
highly recommend Bula for any event your are having . we recently just got married this year and we had Bula sing at our event and we had so many of are guest that complimented him to us.
Again thank you Bula for singing at our wedding.
Martha M
5.0
12/20/2019
Bula and his entire staff are easy to work with. They are very accommodating and offered additional services of a conch blower and hula dancer. He played before, during and after the ceremony and performed during the cocktail hour. His talent added so much to the day and I’m so happy we hired him! He doesn’t disappoint.
Lacey R
5.0
12/20/2019
Bula is beyond talented. I listened to his music on YouTube before choosing him. After hearing his voice, there was no question- I wanted him to sing at my wedding. As I waited outside the gate, I could hear his beautiful voice begin my song...the tears welled up in my eyes, it was absolutely perfect. He impressed my family and friends and made my wedding exactly like I had dreamed it would be. Thank you!!
Ashley M
5.0
12/20/2019
We weren't planning on hiring a live musician to sing at our wedding but it was soooo worth the money and wonderful for the ambiance.
Bula sung at our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception during dinner hour. His voice is so melodic and he is incredibly talented.
Also, Ash was wonderful in coordinating all of the logistics in planning for our wedding day. She is incredibly professional, responsive, and kind.
Thank you Ash & Bula!
Bridget S
5.0
11/06/2019
My then fiancé found Bula Akamu while searching on YouTube for local artists that played for weddings on the Hawaiian Islands. And low and behold he just happened to sing our TWO favorite songs we chose to walk down the aisle to. His voice just gave us chills, goosebumps and made me cry. Every time I listened to his version of Elvis Presley’s, “Cant help falling in love” and “Marry Me” by Train, i cried a lot!! That’s when we knew, he would be the one to grace our friends and family during our wedding ceremony as we walked down the aisle. His voice and stage presence was everything and more. Our guests couldn’t stop praising and complimenting his performance. “Who was that?!” Everyone just loved him!! As I presented myself at the tops of the stairs at the Royal Hawaiian Coconut Grove, his voice just echoed. I stopped, looked up to thank GOD for that very moment, and I proceeded to walk down. All eyes on me, but my eyes on my husband. I listened to the words carefully, and I knew that the walk down the aisle was longer than any normal walk down the aisle, but Bula made sure it flowed. And it flowed perfectly. It was also a pleasure communicating with his wife as well as meeting her. She came by to say hello to me and my girls as we gathered behind the scenes right before the big moment. So sweet and beautiful. We cannot thank Bula Akamu enough for his beautiful performance. Wished we could have spent more time with them. Mahalo with all my heart!!
Yuka E
5.0
10/24/2019
Bula's music was incredibly soulful and a dream come true for our Big Island Hawaiian wedding.
Sandy N
5.0
10/07/2019
My husband and I hired Bula through our resort for our wedding. He is an amazing artist with a wonderful voice. We were extremely pleased with his work.
Samuel D
5.0
10/01/2019
Bula added the little extra that our wedding needed -- live, local music that engaged our guests and made our day extra special. Not only did he play before and after our ceremony, but Bula was able to provide amplification for our ceremony, saving us money and allowing all guests to hear our vow. On top of that, Bula was on time, played without needing direction, and did not take any administration to perform. I couldn't recommend Bula enough for any gathering.
Teresa T
5.0
8/20/2019
We kept Bula plenty busy at our wedding - playing solo at our ceremony and cocktail hour as well as with his band for our reception - and we couldn't be happier! His solo ukulele and guitar playing was perfect for making our ceremony really feel like a Hawaiian wedding, and his band was so much fun keeping everybody dancing all night. The hotel had a power outage during a part of our reception, and the band didn't miss a beat making sure everybody still had a great time in a blackout dance party (major shout out to the saxophone player and drummer who killed it while the keyboard was out and Bula was switching over to his acoustic guitar!). We got so many compliments from our guests about how great Bula and his band were. Bula even went out of his way to record our first dance song a few weeks prior to the wedding, so that we could practice dancing to the actual version that he would play. We definitely recommend Bula to anybody getting married in Hawaii!
Katrina P
5.0
7/09/2019
Bula was our musician for our ceremony at Turtle Point on the beautiful big island of Hawaii. I do not feel we can adequately express how amazing his work was and how many compliments we received after the ceremony... but we will try.
Bula was our musician for our ceremony at Turtle Point on the beautiful big island of Hawaii. I do not feel we can adequately express how amazing his work was and how many compliments we received after the ceremony... but we will try.
Bula was incredibly friendly from start to finish. His voice was soothing and beautiful which created an ambiance of tranquilty and peace. He arrived on time, with a bright smile, and worked with our wedding planner directly, which allowed us to enjoy our day stress free. Bula is so talented and played everything with ease, making our visitors (and us!) feel welcomed to the ceremony.
Bula is professional and was able to help us with music choices when we needed it, but also was chill and sat back once we had everything decided.
Bula Music was an honor to work with, and we strongly recommend him and his company should you want live entertainment. Bula helped create the lasting memory of our wedding that we will hold in our hearts for the rest of our lives. For this, we are forever grateful for Bula Music and the services he offers.
Mahalo,
Katrina & Mitch Powell
Portland, Oregon
Atoosa S
5.0
6/14/2019
Bula Akamu and his wife Ash Lee gave my wife and me the best wedding gift we could have asked for: true Hawaiian aloha. From our first contact with Bula and Ash Lee, we fe