After a two-year hiatus, Jim Nabors returns to the Hawaii Theatre tonight through Sunday for his holiday tableaux, "A Merry Christmas With Friends & Nabors."

The show is the glue that keeps this merry ol' soul happy year-round.

"I missed doing it," Nabors admits about reassembling his gang for the holiday merriment. "The older you get, you wonder if the voice is still there. We'll find out together."

Before the break, Nabors logged a 10-year run as the Christmas centerpiece at the downtown theater. He's never taken pay for his endeavors — the theater is the beneficiary — so the lavish production, with a cast of 100, is an opportunity to give something back to the community he adores.

"I turn 80 next year," he gleefully giggled. "The joy is that I still can do it. I had knee surgery and though I'm not kicking high, at least I can walk. I'm doing good, really, and turning 80 (on June 12), it's kinda hard to take, in my mind."

Being surrounded by friends keeps this show biz veteran young at heart.

"The adrenalin gets running, you really do feel younger. My cast is like family to me," he said. "And I do have fun."

With no serious health issues anymore, Nabors can focus on his deeds. In the mid-90s, he went through a hepatitis B scare, resulting from a cut while shaving. He had liver issues but underwent a liver transplant and consequently supports the work of the American Liver Foundation.

But the H1N1 threat is worrisome, so his jet rides are infrequent.

"It's my immune system. With the new flu, being in an airplane with a bunch of people for a long period is not good," he said. "I'm vulnerable."

Nabors boasts a booming baritone voice behind the gentle, iconic Gomer Pyle TV character he originated on the "Andy Griffith Show," which led to the spin-off "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C" series and subsequent variety show specials on which he surprised viewers with his powerful pipes.

After he set stakes in Hawaii nearly four decades ago, he was tapped to front a Polynesian revue at the Hilton Hawaiian Village dome that ran two years, with visitors flocking to hear his "Gollee" declaration, his Gomer trademark.

But it's the voice that fuels following; stuff like "The Impossible Dream" in general concerts, "O Holy Night" at Christmas.

He realized his grassroots appeal earlier at a casino in Connecticut. "I worked the Mohegan Sun and the place was huge," Nabors said. "You could put the whole Caesars Place in the lobby, and when I first got there, I wanted to see the showroom. The entertainment director told me, 'You're not playing the showroom,' and I thought 'Oh, oh, I was demoted to the lounge.' 'But I have to have a big orchestra,' I told him, and he said I was playing the arena."

Nabors abandoned press agents years ago, so he was slightly embarrassed with the booking. "'You're already sold out,' the guy told me, and I was dumbfounded, wondering who would come see me. Then I watched from the hotel room: 200 buses pulled up, the people got off, and many were on walkers. 'My crowd, my crowd,' I thought. It was such an upper, and I do the senior show every June."

Nabors has acted in scores of films, some cheerfully received, others badly reviewed, but Gomer has had such a strong presence, challenging some directors. "I've always felt that the film is the director's doing, not the actors'," Nabors says. "He tells you what to do. But whatever role I've had, I've never felt like an actor, because whatever character I've done, there's always been a little Gomer there."

His Southern drawl is real and homey, his honesty and courtesy natural.

"I've lived nearly half my life here. Gomer Pyle has been nice to me and I've always tried to be a nice guy," says Nabors. "I never stepped on anybody, never bad-mouthed someone. It's never my style."

He's content with his Diamond Head digs and his retirement in the Islands.

"This is home. Alabama (Sylacauga) is where I'm from," he said.

"I feel so blessed. Even if I have to 'go' tomorrow, I've had a blessed life, incredible parents, a great career, and wonderful friends. And it's wonderful to retire in Hawaii."

You hear the smile in his voice. "The voice has kept me working for the past 40 years," Nabors says. "If I don't do concerts, I could always sing at the opening of a grocery store."