Mayor Rick Blangiardi held a ceremony to dedicate a plaque at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell honoring legendary concert promoter and entrepreneur Tom Moffatt.
Moffatt passed away in 2016 after a six-decade career promoting events in the islands.
“I was privileged to be able to call Tom Moffatt my friend. He was larger than life and had an incredible generosity of spirit which helped make him a one-of-a kind radio personality and promoter,” Blangiardi said. “His passion, talent and dedication to bringing in awe-inspiring world class performances to Honolulu has set a standard for live events in Hawaii and created special and long-lasting memories for generations of our residents.”
“Tom was a devoted partner for what would have been 60 years this May. He was full of passion — for his work, for his family, for the people of Hawaii,” said Mrs. Sweetie Moffatt. “From the moment he arrived here from the Midwest, he embraced the Island culture and was fully grounded and very clear on what he could do for Hawaii. … He will always be the love of my life.”
Tom Moffatt became a household name in Hawaii when he brought Elvis Presley to perform for thousands of fans in 1957. He later booked dozens of high-profile acts, including Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars.
In 2002, Moffatt earned the Na Hoku Hanohano lifetime achievement award and was nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2009.
The plaque is located at a spot between main gate and Shell stage that Moffatt was frequently seen during shows as he took in the technical aspects of the production, perused the crowd and enjoyed the music.
It states: “Mahalo nui loa for bringing so much joy to the people of Hawaii for over half a century. The consummate showman, your productions featuring iconic artists who enthralled audiences from around the world. In deep gratitude for your priceless gifts to the citizens of Honolulu, the City and County of Honolulu dedicates the “Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell” in your loving memory.”
The City and County of Honolulu also proclaimed April 12, 2014 as “Tom Moffatt Day” in honor of the 50th anniversary of his first show at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. On August 17, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 17-229, renaming the Waikiki Shell as the “Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell.”
