Pop icon and Hawaii celebrity Tom Moffatt is constantly stopped on streets, in shopping centers, in restaurants and at gas stations -- greeted with awe by adoring fans whose glowing smiles are unforgettable tributes to his successful career. Supreme court judges, high-powered attorneys, auto mechanics, waitresses, corporate executives and airline pilots all count themselves among the many fans of Tom Moffatt, the affable deejay-turned-entertainment entrepreneur affectionately known as “Uncle Tom.”

How does a young man from South Lyon, Michigan become the stuff legends are made of? For Moffatt, it was a string of fortunate circumstances.

Offered a college scholarship to play football for the venerable coach George Allen, athletic standout Moffatt chose instead to travel “as far west” as he could get – the decision landed him in the middle of the Pacific in the territory of Hawaii.

Originally in pursuit of a legal degree from the University of Hawaii, his interests quickly turned to theatre and radio and resulted in a study stint as a junior staff announcer at station KGU. Deciding that more could be learned with some true dedication, Moffatt dropped his law program to work full-time for the station – and the U.S. Army, noting that he was no longer attending college, drafted him into service.

But rather than hand him a rifle and send him to the Korean War, the Army placed him behind a microphone and in front of a turntable at Tripler Army Hospital. For the remainder of his mandatory duty, Moffatt would work for the Armed Forces Radio. He spun records, did commentary and assisted in special services (when the first wave of U.S. prisoners of war arrived at Tripler, Moffatt was selected to interview them about turncoat activities in a highly classified film that was immediately rushed to Washington for review by Congressional delegates).

It was during those years with A.F.R. that he first began to introduce entertainers to appreciative Hawaii audiences – namely, the veterans recuperating at the hospital. Among those Moffatt encountered in his early career were Louis Armstrong, Mel Torme, Xavier Cugat, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jack Benny, and George Burns. All the while, he continued to work his off-duty hours at both KGU and KIKI.

Once discharged from the Army, there was never a question of career choices. Moffatt’s warm and reassuring voice was already a celebrity fixture on Hawaii’s airwaves, and his charm and good looks garnered him the admiration of Hawaii’s hyper-social teenagers, who gathered religiously at the White Top Drive In to hear KIKI’s “Uncle Tom” live and in person.

Then, while working at Henry J. Kaiser’s new station, KHVH, Moffatt teamed with a brash young personality by the name of Ron Jacobs. Together they created the state’s most listened-to radio show, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” an antics-filled, non-stop roller-coaster radio ride featuring Jacobs (as the bad guy) and Moffatt (as the good guy), locked in an “eternal feud” that fans remember with passion to this day -- sometimes to Jacobs’s chagrin.

But more was soon to come, for radio was about to become part of a music revolution the likes of which have not been seen since. In the thick of this was mega-popular deejay, Tom Moffatt, hired on at a groundbreaking new radio station with the call letters K-POI.

K-POI’s innovative 24-hour format of Top 40 hits made it an instant success with Hawaii’s youth. Teaming with fellow “Poi Boys” Ron Jacobs, Tom Rounds, Bob Lowrey, Dave Donnelly, Don Robbs, Steve Nicolet and Jack Kellner, it dominated the airwaves as the most listened-to radio station in the state.

At the same time, Moffatt coordinated and emceed a string of concert promotions called the “Show of Stars” at the Civic Auditorium. Over the five-year run of the “Show Of Stars,” every major recording artist of the day appeared in Hawaii, many of whom are now enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and remain Moffatt’s personal friends.

A supportive radio station and extraordinarily enthusiastic fans kept the live shows coming. When the Honolulu International Center Arena opened its doors in the early 60’s, it was Moffatt and fellow “Poi Boys” Jacobs and Rounds who produced its first concert. From that point on, every show that came through the state was promoted, coordinated, and emceed by Tom Moffatt and the glittering do-no-wrong Poi Boys. While Moffatt continued to receive accolade after accolade for his radio success (twice named 16 Magazine’s Top U.S. deejay), he was laying the foundation for an entertainment empire that would see him through -- and beyond -- his years as program director and finally vice president and general manager of K-POI Radio.

More “firsts” follow Moffatt from then ‘til now. With his Arena Associates pals, he produced the first music videos ever, including performances by Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, and the Who. Before Woodstock, he co-produced the Miami Pop Festival, the first integrated three-day music festival held in the South. So innovative were their methods and promotion that Woodstock would hire their coordinator and key production people.

Back at home, Moffatt initiated the fabled Sunshine Festivals, an annual New Year’s Day musicfest held inside Diamond Head Crater featuring the likes of Santana.

By the mid-70’s, the first of several changes to K-POI were taking place. Moffatt saw his opportunity to become independent, and to pursue his love of live entertainment. While his partners continued their radio careers (Rounds and Jacobs both went to Los Angeles – Rounds nurtured a joint venture between himself, Jacobs and Moffatt that would become ‘American Top Forty,’ while Jacobs helmed the legendary KHJ), Moffatt stayed in Hawaii and built himself an empire. His company, Tom Moffatt Productions, diversified into all forms of entertainment – live sporting events, ice shows, closed circuit boxing matches, fundraisers, hotel and corporate parties, international attractions and, of course, the very best in big-name talent.

Of all the celebrities with whom Moffatt is affiliated, his fans most closely associate him with Elvis Presley. It was Moffatt who first played an Elvis record on-air, and it was Moffatt who introduced him in his first Hawaii concert in 1957. Together with his “Poi Boy” cohorts, he staged the first “Elvis impersonation,” catching the attention of Elvis’s legendary manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who would become a lifetime friend and supporter. Moffatt would go on to assist the Colonel in all Elvis appearances in Hawaii, from his first concert following his discharge from the military at Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor (a benefit for the Arizona Memorial), to his innovative “world satellite telecast” concert, “Elvis Live From Hawaii,” at the Honolulu International Center (now the Blaisdell Arena).

Besides Elvis, Moffatt’s roster of shows is diverse and unequaled: Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, the Grateful Dead, Jose Carreras, Bette Midler, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Eagles, Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Led Zepplin, Disney On Ice, Bob Marley, Howie Mandel, the Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Journey, Barry Manilow, ‘N Sync, Mariah Carey, Chicago, the Shanghai Circus, Christina Aguilera and much, much more.

You can also thank Moffatt for the fastest sell-outs in the history of Hawaii’s largest venues: Michael Jackson at the Aloha Stadium in 1996, the Rock, headlining the WWE, at the Blaisdell Arena in 2002, and the 2004 American Idols Live shows (three sold-out concerts).

In recent years, Moffatt teamed up with longtime friend Glen A. Larson, creator-writer-producer of such television hits as “Magnum, P.I.,” “Quincy,” “Fall Guy,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “McCloud,” as associate producer of the syndicated series, “One West Waikiki.”

Together with famed boxing promoter Lou DiBella, he coordinated and promoted Waipahu’s Olympian, Brian Viloria, in his professional boxing debut at the Hawaii Convention Center for ESPN. Millions of boxing fans nationwide tuned in to see not only the world-class athletes, but also the scenic backdrop of Hawaii mingled with glorious Hawaiian dancers. For Moffatt, his involvement in projects like these are his way of promoting Hawaii to other audiences.

Moffatt has always remained, in spite of his worldly job description, a local resident and staunch supporter of homegrown talent. He has poured much of his time and energy into promoting local entertainment, from the original “Brown Bags To Stardom” talent contests to the first annual May Day concert with the Brothers Cazimero to the historic coupling of Cecilio & Kapono and Kalapana in the first major concert at Aloha Stadium.

Working with pioneering record distributor Irving Pinensky, he co-produced a young band with a fresh, island sound by the name of “Country Comfort,” and watched as the album soared up the charts and gave birth to a new genre -- contemporary Hawaiian music. Local musicians found themselves at the top of radio play lists alongside the world’s most popular bands, and promoted by the same man who promoted many of their famous idols. For Moffatt, there is no end to the wealth of talent his island home has to offer – so it’s no wonder that one of his proudest accomplishments is his multi-award-winning recording with Keola and Kapono Beamer, “Honolulu City Lights,” the unrivaled all-time best-selling album in Hawaii.

In 2005, Moffatt was named one of the 100 most influential people in the history of the city of Honolulu. This prestigious list also included some of the most notable people of the last century, including Hawaii’s first governor, John Burns, U.S. Congressman Daniel Inouye, surf legend Duke Kahanamoku, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, developer Chris Hemmeter, Hawaii Calls producer Webley Edwards, and Queen Kapiolani.

His autobiography, written with the help of famed biographer and friend, Jerry Hopkins, appeared on bookshelves at Christmas that same year. A best-seller, the book chronicles Moffatt’s life and career and provides an unparalleled look at the history of modern entertainment in Hawaii.

Moffatt’s company, aside from continuing to promote the best in the world of entertainment, also handles advertising and publicity, produces and implements marketing strategies and provides technical support to a host of select clients. From Broadway shows to hotel grand openings, Moffatt is everywhere. His honesty, personality, dedication and exceptional promotional talents have made him the guru of Hawaii’s entertainment scene, the person everyone looks to for guidance and advice. There is not a more personable, relaxed and enthusiastic individual in the business – anywhere. It’s no wonder Hawaii’s residents still admire and believe in their “Uncle Tom!”