ALOHA FROM
HAWAII

On January 14, 1973, Elvis Presley made television history when he performed a live concert from the Honolulu International Center Arena that was broadcast via the Intelsat IV satellite to audiences across Asia, Europe, and beyond. It was the first entertainment program ever to be transmitted live via satellite around the globe, and it reached an estimated audience of over 1.5 billion people — more viewers than the Apollo moon landings.

The concert was the brainchild of producer/director Marty Pasetta and Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker, who saw an opportunity to showcase Elvis on the world stage in a way that had never been done before. The logistics were staggering — coordinating satellite feeds across multiple time zones, managing the technical challenges of a live global broadcast, and ensuring that the production quality matched the ambition of the event.

Elvis took the stage at 12:30 AM Hawaiian time (to accommodate prime-time viewing in Japan and other Asian markets) wearing one of his most spectacular jumpsuits — the "American Eagle," designed by Bill Belew. The white jumpsuit, adorned with an elaborate eagle design made of gold and jewels, weighed approximately 30 pounds with its matching cape. At the end of the show, Elvis dramatically removed the cape and threw it into the audience — a gesture that became one of the most iconic moments in concert history.

The concert was a triumph. Elvis performed for over an hour, delivering a setlist that spanned his entire career — from the raw rock and roll of "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Hound Dog" to the emotional power of "An American Trilogy" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." His voice was in magnificent form, and his stage presence was commanding.