To figure out exactly what it means to have "Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music" at the Blaisdell Concert Hall over the next two weekends, we went to the streets for a little perspective.

Well, actually, we cheated: We hit the streets the way Big Bird, the Cookie Monster or Elmo would — by asking moms why muppets created in 1969 remain just as big or bigger today than they were in the '70s.

Moms still know best, right?

Big mahalo to Esme Infante Nii, guardian and site manager of http://Hawaii.MomsLikeMe.com, the Advertiser's Web site where Hawai'i moms share experiences about everything from buying diapers to dealing with the terrible twos. If you haven't checked it out, particularly if you're a new mom, it's a gold mine of information.

With Esme's help, here's what Hawai'i moms had to say about the Sesame Street experience:

"I took my DD (darling daughter) last year, she would be 2 years old. We purchased $30-something dollar tickets. We were in the balcony second row. Well, my (daughter) lost interest five minutes in and was interested only in the dust she would see in the beam of the lights. WOOHOO. Spent $70-plus dollars to look at dust. During intermission she saw the Elmo balloons, but I believe they were $8 and, frankly, I wasn't going to pay it.

We have purchased tickets for this year as she has seen another play and was able to sit pretty through it. Plus, we got in on a special for $10 per ticket for like, Row 5, so being closer will probably be better."

— Kitty2

"I went a few years ago and my kids had a blast! They loved seeing the familiar characters in 'real life.' The songs were fun and engaging and it wasn't so long that my kids got antsy. I think it was just right!!"

— MamaMia808

"I enjoy it purely for the smiles and laughter that I see from my children. I love how they interact when songs are being sung and when a question is posed to the audience and the kids get all excited to answer!"

— Triple S

"I have taken my older son in the past and just to see the smile on his face was well worth it!! This year will be the first time I am taking my 2-year-old son. He is so excited! Every time he sees the commercial, he gets up and dances and says 'la la mommy la la' He loves Elmo!!"

— kahea67

"Well, last year we went, but DD was only 11 or 12 months. She loved it and I enjoyed watching her clap and laugh! This year now that she's older and she can shake her booty. I can't wait!!"

— Maddiesmom