Dorothy “Auntie Dottie" Thompson, who helped found and direct the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii's most prestigious showcase for hula, died March 19 in Hilo after a long illness. She was 88.
Thompson and George Na'ope cofounded the festival in 1964 with the intention of boosting tourism and cultural pride. Na'ope died in October at 81.
The weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo's Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium, celebrates its 47th anniversary this year beginning April 4. Under Thompson's determined leadership, the festival remained little changed or modernized. A behind- the-scenes force, she kept prices low, insisted that the hula be the focus of the show and resisted offers to move it to a bigger, more modern venue.
The hula festival, dedicated to reviving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, is governed by a nonprofit organization that is directed by Luana Kawelu, Thompson's daughter and successor. Tickets for three nights are still a maximum of $30, but they sell out quickly.
Every year until she became unable to attend a few years ago, Thompson could be glimpsed on the sidelines of the festival wearing a muumuu, flower lei and straw hat.
She was never formally trained in hula. Although involved from the beginning, Thompson didn't assume leadership of the festival until 1968, when the still-new event was in danger of being canceled for lack of leadership.
Thompson volunteered and formed a partnership with Na'ope, a hula master.
Thompson and George Na'ope cofounded the festival in 1964 with the intention of boosting tourism and cultural pride. Na'ope died in October at 81.
The weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo's Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium, celebrates its 47th anniversary this year beginning April 4. Under Thompson's determined leadership, the festival remained little changed or modernized. A behind- the-scenes force, she kept prices low, insisted that the hula be the focus of the show and resisted offers to move it to a bigger, more modern venue.
The hula festival, dedicated to reviving and perpetuating Hawaiian culture, is governed by a nonprofit organization that is directed by Luana Kawelu, Thompson's daughter and successor. Tickets for three nights are still a maximum of $30, but they sell out quickly.
Every year until she became unable to attend a few years ago, Thompson could be glimpsed on the sidelines of the festival wearing a muumuu, flower lei and straw hat.
She was never formally trained in hula. Although involved from the beginning, Thompson didn't assume leadership of the festival until 1968, when the still-new event was in danger of being canceled for lack of leadership.
Thompson volunteered and formed a partnership with Na'ope, a hula master.
