Hanging out at an Oahu beach park on Sunday evening with Iam Tongi’s family, “American Idol” contestant Oliver Steele took some time to talk about his friendship with the “Idol” winner, the blessing of the show exposure, his love for Hawaii and Jack Johnson’s music, and his excitement at making his Maui debut on Wednesday evening at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua.

“We met on ‘American Idol’ in the holding room,” Steele explains about his close friendship with Iam Tongi. “We both knew ‘Island Style’ by John Cruz, and we started singing it together, and immediately became friends. Then, as time went on, we had so much more in common than we ever knew. He wound up calling my dad when he was in the hospital and stuff, and he just became family.”

Online, he posted about Tongi, “I told Iam the day that I met him that he would win. He’s been a brother, a light of positivity and a force of love. He has impacted me and my family more so than anyone else I’ve met on this journey.”

With a grandmother from the Philippines (his late father was half Filipino) Steele already has quite a fan base in Hawaii, and he’s even been interviewed by Maui’s Vince Esquire on his “Put Up Your Ukes” podcast. “It’s strange,” he says. “I get recognized more here than I do back home in Nashville. It’s humbling. I love it.”

Competing on the 21st season of “American Idol,” this soulful artist made it to the top 8. “It was extremely rewarding and a blessing,” he says. Along the way, he drew praise from the judges. His emotional performance of Eric Clapton’s “Change the World,” sung to his father, prompted Katy Perry to declare, “You could win this thing.” After performing his original song “Too soon,” Lionel Richie enthused, “your talent is on fire.” In response to his interpretation of Ray Charles” “Georgia on My Mind,” Luke Bryan praised, “you have a timeless sounding voice, being from Georgia I was moved.”

His biggest thrill was performing Ed Sheeran’s song “Photograph” as a duet with his buddy Iam Tongi, in front of the megastar.

“They told us at the end of an episode that we were going to have to do duets,” he explains. “Iam and I looked at each other because we knew that they were going to pair us together, and of course, they did. We found out that Ed was going to be a judge, and I lost it. I was screaming because we had no idea.”

An “American Songwriter” review of the duet raved, “The performance was every bit as stunning as one would guess after seeing these singers’ names alongside each other.”

Sheeran told them, “that was so beautiful to listen to. I got emotional it was so good.”

“His response to our cover was amazing,” Steele marvels. “He gave me such great advice after the show. I ran up to him and talked to him and had him sign my guitar.”

Steele had also performed the Beatles’ “In My Life” on “Idol. “It was partly because of loving Sheeran’s version. “My dad used to play it when I was younger, but also I’m a big Ed Sheeran fan, and there’s a rendition that he did years ago I fell in love with,” he says.

In August, Steele paid tribute to Maui releasing the lovely song “In the Sky,” as a benefit for the Aloha Strong Music Collective.

“I recorded ‘In the Sky’ to benefit the people of Lahaina,” he says. “It was heartbreaking seeing what happened in Lahaina, because I’ve kind of fallen in love with Hawaii and its culture and its people. I felt the media caught hold of it for one second and then forgot about it. So when my friend approached me to write a song, I jumped on the opportunity.”

And he just released an original song, the powerful ballad “Love Begins With You.” “It was sort of a love song at the time for someone who I’m no longer with,” he notes. “I write songs from the heart.”

As for his favorite songwriters, Jack Johnson reigns supreme. “I’m an amalgamation of influences, and Jack Johnson’s probably my biggest influence,” he says. “He’s my hero. Like my guitar technique, the way I play, all of that comes from him.”

Steele has released a cover of “Better Together” (benefiting the Maui Strong Fund) and cites Johnson’s “Home” as a favorite, and “If Ever,” composed with Paula Fuga. Paula just sang it on stage with him at the Blue Note. “She came backstage and made a lei for me,” he says. “She’s one of my heroes.”

He’s currently working towards an album and will likely collaborate with Maui’s Eli-Mac. “I’m focusing on making more music and writing,” he says. “My friend Eli-Mac wants me to come out to her studio and start writing with her. She wants me to get more into island reggae music, which I’m all about it. I’m going to make that happen sometime soon.”

Oliver Steele performs with Nashville guitarist Dan Bankhurst on Wednesday, Sept. 4 and Thursday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Alaloa Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Admission is free. Seating is first-come, first served, and valet parking is complimentary.