Elvis Presley’s iconic “Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite” concert was a groundbreaking event in music history. On January 14, 1973, Elvis performed at the Honolulu International Center (now the Neal S. Blaisdell Center) in front of a live audience, and the show was broadcast via satellite to a global audience estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 billion viewers.
The concert was a benefit for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in Hawaii, and audience members were asked to pay what they could afford for tickets. The event raised $75,000 for the charity. Elvis wore a stunning white “American Eagle” jumpsuit designed by Bill Belew during the performance.
The show was directed and produced by Marty Pasetta, and it was a massive production that cost $2.5 million, making it the most expensive entertainment special at the time. Although the concert was broadcast live to many parts of the world, it was not broadcast live to America due to the Super Bowl VII taking place on the same day. Instead, it was rebroadcast on NBC on April 4, 1973, at 8:30 p.m.
The album “Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite” was released in conjunction with the concert and became a huge commercial success. It reached the Billboard 200 Chart on May 5, 1973, and was certified 2 million in sales by the RIAA on May 20, 1989.
Elvis watched the “Aloha From Hawaii” broadcast from his home in Los Angeles on April 4, 1973. The concert remains one of the most memorable moments in Elvis’s career, showcasing his enduring popularity and talent. The event’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of Elvis fans, including those in Nashville, where the Elvis Presley fans group has been sharing and celebrating his history and music since 2011.
