Here’s another recap from two more of our special Vertigo Tour correspondents, Lisa Konarski and Gayle Kuzmich. Thanks to the both of you for sending this along! (By the way - grab a snack and a beverage…they wrote quite a bit!)
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Our excitement began with a simple email. Gayle’s sister Gina posed the possibility of going to Hawaii for the April U2 show. Gayle sent Lisa the email and said “What do you think?” Could it be possible? U2 in Hawaii! It truly would be paradise. A couple frantic days of checking for airfare, tickets, hotel costs etc. were stopped with the announcement of the postponement of the show. Still the seed had been planted. And our wait began.

We checked the web each day for the new dates. Finally in late July the word came. Gayle read the announcement on @U2.com first. She called Lisa and breathlessly said “They announced the new dates!” We were quickly on the web scanning for ticket prices. We found what we were looking for – GA’s! We purchased them within an hour of learning about the dates. We were really going to Hawaii! Gayle had to hang up the phone because she could hardly speak. Lisa jumped up and down in her office. Oh my gosh – it was really going to happen. On December 7th, after months of planning, imagining and intoxicating excitement we left California to see our boys.

We arrived in Hawaii on Thursday around noon. After quickly settling into our hotel, we headed to the bar for a “pinch me we’re really here” celebratory mai tai (one of many..you can be sure). We spot our first U2 t-shirt – Croke Park. We know why they’re here. Later on the beach we see more U2 t-shirts of different varieties as well as Product (Red) shirts. The sense of being a part of something big is building.

Later back at the bar, Gayle, wearing the Edun “ONE” shirt, is asked “Is that a U2 One shirt or a just a shirt that says one?” Jeff and Stacy from Phoenix, Arizona are there for the show too. Soon we meet Mike and Matt of New York. Our U2 shirts are a great icebreaker. In our conversations with these fellow fans we tell them of the blog for @U2.com and are surprised they have not visited it. We quickly share the site address and promise they won’t be disappointed in this great resource.

The energy builds in the local media. On Friday we learn that the line is already forming. As we meet others with GA tickets we ask when they plan to get in line. Saturday morning is the common answer so we are confident in our plan to go to the stadium in the morning and we continue to enjoy Hawaii.

A breezy, sunny morning welcomes us Saturday. It truly is a beautiful day! Packed with provisions for our day in line, we await the arrival of Russ our cab driver whom the hotel had hooked us up with. We had heard transportation would be premium due to the show and the Honolulu marathon on Sunday morning. Russ is running late and when Lisa calls him, he says he’ll pick us up in 15 minutes. Seems like an eternity. While we wait, Gayle’s sister Gina spots Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber and Kid Rock in the hotel’s Starbucks. Pretty sure they are her for the show. Lisa asks for a photo with Cindy. Rande asks Gayle if she wants to be in the photo too, he will take it. Gayle says no but he earns big charm points for asking. Russ finally arrives and we are off.

We get to Aloha Stadium a little after 11 a.m. Later than we hoped but the line looks promising. Stadium staff have the fans grouped (caged) in sections with those diehard campers in section one. At one point a security guard walks by and yells, “No alcohol in the cages!!” Yikes. Anyway, we make it into the end of section 3. We position our supplies and begin our wait. Our goal is the circle within the first barrier and we anxiously wonder if we’ll make the cut. Security seems somewhat loose in letting people in and out of the section. We’re told there are approximately 1500 people ahead of us. Everything we have read says the inner barrier holds three to four thousand. We are sure we are in but…

Waiting in line offers the opportunity to watch a variety of people. There is such a diversity of ages. We meet people from all over the United States and listen to conversations in different languages.

As the time to enter the stadium nears, the anticipation rises and there are a couple false starts. One person stands and everyone stands. There is a push to the front gate of our section – nothing dangerous but definitely urgent. The neat rows are gone and a bulge of people is standing. Positioning has been altered. Some who were behind us are now in front of us and a few whom were in front of us are near the end of the line. One brilliant fan suggests the line move to the right so we are in the shade. Hats off to you!! We meet John, Mike and Brent from Dallas, Texas. John is a big fan and he’s been trying to explain the energy of a U2 show to U2 concert virgin Brent. If Brent only knew what lies ahead.

About 4:30 p.m. the first group is calmly walked into the stadium. As they pass the other side of the cyclone fence that separates us, they are greeted with cheers. We see section two moving then it’s our turn. We move, we stop and we move again. Security seems to have the movement under control. We are warned not too run and looking at the size of some of the security crew, I wouldn’t defy them. After a short wait just outside the stadium, the switchback moves. We climb up the stairs and then down to our first look at the stage. Oh my, there it is! A stadium stage we have only seen in photos. We see the inner circle. So much room. Yes, we are in! But then comes the devastating blow.

Just a dozen people from the gate to the inner circle we are cut off! We stand at the barrier, frustrated, disappointed and angry. There is so much space inside. The inner circle of the arms of the stage (the U2uterus) is full but the people around the outer side of the arms are just three deep. We stand at the barrier of the outer circle, stage left. Good viewing but not what we wanted.

We spend the next couple hours questioning security, contemplating options, attempting to get in but it’s not meant to be. A terrific gentleman in a great black hat is standing next to us with his wife. They are from Toronto. He bolsters our positioning by reminding us that these are great spots. Putting it into perspective, we are here to see U2. We are in Hawaii. It’s the last show of the tour. And we are closer than either of us has ever been. Hello!!! Is this awesome or what???

U2 Stage Manager Rocko and his band the Devils kicked off at 6:30 p.m. They were great! Playing for a solid ½ hour, they played a couple classic rock songs as well as one referring to road rage on Hawaii’s Nimitz Freeway. He had a blast running around on the side stages. He gives a shout out to his mom and dad and says, “See I told you I could do it.” Very cool. Young man’s dream being realized later in life. Rocko asks who in the audience is local. Many cheer. But when he asks who flew in for the show, the roar is far louder. There are more cheers from the crowd when Rocko acknowledges his employers. He comments on the length of the tour and being away from friends and family and the anticipation of it being over in “20..20…24 hours to go…” Thus he ends his set with a dynamic cover of “I Wanna be Sedated.” The stadium was fairly empty at this point and we wonder if some didn’t hear that the show started at 6:30 rather than the 7:30 time noted on the ticket. The inner section is still wide open.

Pearl Jam comes to the stage ½ an hour later. OK, now when we heard that Pearl Jam was to open for this show, we were just stoked. Having sat through Kings of Leon and Damian Marley at earlier shows in San Jose and Oakland, while watching Europe get the likes of the Killers and Keane and other great acts, we felt we had “earned” Pearl Jam. So if seeing U2 in Hawaii was the completely decadent chocolate fudge cake, Pearl Jam was the icing. And they were awesome. They opened with Corduroy and didn’t disappoint. Eddie kind of went a little crazy with his tambourines during the Baba O’Riley finale hitting himself and Mike McCready on the head a few times. It was cool to see them having fun and goofing around. Gayle’s thrill was seeing Given to Fly. Love the song, love it better live. Totally cool.

Upon the conclusion of the Pearl Jam, the lights come back up and the open area within the front barrier is beginning to fill in. Cast members from the TV show “Lost” walk by us. We later learn Kid Rock was there and in the inner circle. Many of those that fill in the open space appear to be there to be seen. Yes, we are still frustrated but refuse to let it spoil the night.

Finally the long awaited moment arrives. Months of waiting, planning, anticipating come down to the lights dimming and the cities where U2 had played during the Vertigo tour scroll across the immense stage. Each city is counted off. Cheers rise from the crowd as their city rolls by. We yell for San Jose and Oakland, California where we saw our other shows. Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” plays and we know what comes next.

Adam, Larry and The Edge appear as if a part of the smoke. The strains of “City of Blinding Lights” build. We have heard it before but it still makes our spirits soar. An American flag rises from the far alternate stage and Bono appears. He waves the flag around and struts that Bono strut to the main stage. He may know he “can’t dance” but oh to watch that man move.

The crowd is charged and the energy is beyond electric. We sing, no scream, those familiar words of the first few songs – City, Vertigo and Elevation. We love the desire to sing with the band but they are drowned out by the fan enthusiasm early on. Bono thanks everyone for their patience in waiting for the show following the postponement. In one of several touching moments, Bono thanks Edge, Morleigh, Sian and Levi for their strength and support of the tour. The crowd echoes his thanks. We are truly grateful to be here and the air of magic is strong.

More magic. During “Angel of Harlem,” Bono pulls a guy up and has his arm around his shoulder. He is talking to him as they walk toward the main stage. Bono turns, laughs and then tells Edge “This man has a request. A very specific request.” This incredibly lucky guy wants to play keyboards for “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?” No way! There is a brief scramble with the band to prep for the song. It is incredible and amazing.

Bono is generous with the stage visitors. He brought a little girl up to sing “No more” during “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”. Another man was brought up from the front for a brief time. During the first encore was the lucky girl brought up during “Mysterious Ways” and kept on stage while Bono, on his knees, sang “With or Without You.” Lisa REALLY wanted to be her.

To paraphrase Bono, Larry, dare we say it, was on fire. The drumming was so strong. The first encore kicked off with “The Fly” and is a highlight for Gayle. The energy, the music, the lights. You can’t help but say “WOW.” Then the second encore blew us away.

It started with the new song “Window in the Skies.” Then Bono called out, “Let’s see if we can get Billy Joe out here.” It can’t be true. We can’t be this lucky! Then Billy Joe appears as “The Saints are Coming” starts up. His microphone didn’t work so Bono gives him another one. The song rocks. Billy Joe leaves and Bono says “Let’s see if we can get any more saints out here”. Eddie and Mike from Pearl Jam come on for an AMAZING version of “Keep on Rocking in the Free World.” It is beyond description. The power of that number. Bono changes a line to sing “Make poverty history!” He sings “We love The Edge.” Eddie sings “We love The Edge.” We sing “We love The Edge.” And you think what a great way to end the show. We’re feeling good. What a great night…..but then, The Edge reaches for ANOTHER guitar and you think “What more can they possibly give us?”

Bono then thanks their women who have followed their men. And he begins “All I Want is You.” Beautiful! Powerful! Amazing! Bono leaves the stage. Adam leaves the stage. The Edge leaves the stage. Larry plays on. Concentrating. Taking in the moment. Then he stands and walks to the front of the stage. He thanks us for waiting for them and says “See you soon.” We begin counting the days.

The show is over and what an incredible experience. We recognize how incredibly fortunate we are to be a part of it. We love The Edge! We love Adam! We love Larry! We love Bono! We love this band! Mahalo U2!