Elvis in Bronze at the Blaisdell

A life-sized, 1,100-pound bronze statue of Elvis Presley was unveiled yesterday on the grounds of the Neal Blaisdell Center. The 6'2" music icon is depicted atop a pedestal bearing plaques that explain how his 1973 "Aloha from Hawaii" show at the Blaisdell was a major television milestone, broadcast live to over a billion people in over 30 countries.

Donated to the city of Honolulu by the TV Land cable network, the installation also pays tribute to Elvis' strong ties to and love of the islands.

As The Honolulu Advertiser explains, Elvis filmed three movies in Hawaii, including "Blue Hawaii" in 1961, which was a big hit for him and for Hawaii's fledgling tourism industry. He also played three concerts here, some of the proceeds going towards building the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.

Check out the rest of my Elvis statue photos, as well as a short video montage.