Fan report by Elisabeth White.

When you live on Maui you are used to hanging out under the stars. Nature and its beauty are constantly surrounding us. People here are in general cool, eco and relaxed. But once in a while this little island in the middle of nowhere will start buzzing. Such was the case when it was official that Elton John was going to perform here.

As the concert sold out in no time flat, they added an additional night before the original one. That's the night my husband, Doug, and I attended: 24 February 2011.

How I got the tickets is a long story and a beautiful one but it was not until I actually picked up the tickets and held them in my hand that I believed it! We were going to see Elton John live ... for the first time ever!

Before the concert we met Nigel Olson in the open air backstage area. An incredibly kind person! Considering that he was only 1/2 hour away from performing he was quite relaxed. When it was time for him to leave, though, one could tell that he actually was nervous. After all these years ...

Placed in the center we had a great view of the brand new outdoor stage. Elton appeared, the crowd cheered. It was amazing. He is used to big crowds, we know that, and there are only about 5,000 who fit into the MACC (Maui Arts and Cultural Center) outside area. But the welcome was heart felt and impressive.

During the almost 3 hour performance I realized that I am far from knowing all his tunes. But that was quite alright. I enjoyed the evening so much! All the tunes I did know and do love were there! 'The Best Of' just kept happening. From "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "I guess that's why they call it the Blues", "Daniel" and "Sorry seems to be the hardest Word" to "Candle in the Wind", "Bennie and the Jets" and "Crocodile Rock" mixed with a few tunes from his new album.

Towards the end of the concert Elton talked about himself and his relationship with Maui. It was in 1972 that he spent his first big holiday here on our island. He stayed on Kaanapali Beach, went deep sea diving and played lots of tennis. He told his cheering fans that there is a special feeling on this island. He also said: "Same sex civil unions! Well done, well done, Hawaii!" He wished us health and happiness and love.

And while the crowd gave him a big hand he started playing his first encore. "Your Song" brought tears to my eyes. This tune means a lot to me and I absolutely love it. It was mind boggling to see him on stage while I listened to it. "Don't let the sun go down on me" brought the show to an end. It seemed like the applause would never end.

I looked up at the sky. Millions of stars were there. Elton under the Maui stars was a once in a life time experience.

Mahalo and Aloha, Elton!

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