NBC’s TODAY Show Broadcast to Include Haleakalā Visit

Haleakalā, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

The nationally televised TODAY Show on NBC will be broadcasting live from the historic Royal Hawaiian hotel located on Oʻahu’s famed Waikīkī Beach on Monday.

The visit is part the program’s “Great American Adventure” that features five US destinations in a single week.

Because of the time difference between Hawaiʻi and the East Coast, where the show originates, the live broadcast will start at 1 a.m. HST on Monday, May 20.

That begs the question–what can be seen before the crack of dawn in Hawaiʻi?  It’s even too early for the quintessential sunrise at Haleakalā.

But producers have already identified some iconic locations around the state that they plan to feature on the broadcast, and have arrived early to film some of their adventures in advance.

Locations that will be featured include: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island, the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s McBryde Garden on Kauaʻi, Haleakalā National Park on Maui, and Waikīkī Beach on Oʻahu.

The program will include lūʻau hula and fire knife dancers as well island personalities, and musical performances by various artists including Jack Johnson.

The entire cast of anchors from the TODAY Show will be in the Aloha State for the program including Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales, Al Roker and Willie Geist.

The resort will be closed for access except to guests during the taping, but spectators may walk through the public beach access located between The Royal Hawaiian and Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.