The Waikiki Shell will be renamed the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell in honor of the late concert promoter, under a resolution approved unanimously by the City Council Wednesday.
The Shell was Moffatt’s favorite venue to hold an entertainment event, according to his friend John Henry Felix.
“It’s the appropriate thing to do,” Felix said of the Council vote. “Tom must be smiling from heaven.”
In many radio advertisements promoting his Shell concerts, Moffatt memorably used the phrase “under the stars.”
Resolution 17-229 was introduced by Councilman Ernie Martin, who called Moffatt “a true legend.” Over six decades, Moffatt brought a number of the entertainment industry’s biggest names to Honolulu, including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars, Martin said.
Moffatt died Dec. 12 at age 85.
Shortly thereafter, Martin had introduced an earlier resolution asking that either a part of Neal S. Blaisdell Center or the Shell be named after Moffatt. At that time, a slew of Moffatt fans testified in support of renaming an entertainment venue after him.
Martin said Wednesday that Moffatt’s family preferred the Shell.
City Enterprise Service Director Guy Kaulukukui submitted testimony in support of the resolution.
Andrew Pereira, a spokesman for Mayor Kirk Caldwell, said Kaulukukui’s department will work with the Moffatt family and the Council to determine an appropriate time to make the name change.
Moffatt’s widow, Sweetie, is in Europe and was unavailable for comment Wednesday.