Dottie Thompson
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Mae Elizabeth Soares Thompson, widely known as Auntie Dottie, (May 16, 1921 – March 19, 2010) was an American
festival
organizer, who is credited with co-founding and developing the Merrie Monarch Festival
. The Merrie Monarch Festival, which is held in Hilo, is Hawaii's premier hula
event. It was developed by Thompson and hula dancer, George Naope
.
Dorothy Mae Elizabeth Soares was born on May 16, 1921, the youngest of five children. As a sophomore
in 1937 she was named best female athlete of Hilo High School
. She graduated from President William McKinley High School
in Honolulu in 1939. She had four children with her husband Ronald Saiki. Her second husband was George Thompson.
Thompson served as the Merrie Monarch's executive director
since 1968 with Naope. She remained the festival's head until her death in 2010. Thompson initially had to push hard for funds and media coverage during the festival's early years. Throughout her tenure as director of the festival, Thompson was careful to keep its main focus on hula. She kept admission prices low and resisted efforts to move Merrie Monarch from Hilo's Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium, where it has traditionally been held, to a larger facility.
Mayor of Hawaii
Billy Kenoi proclaimed February 13, 2010, as Auntie Dottie Thompson Day.
Dorothy "Auntie Dottie" Thompson died from complication
s from pneumonia
at the Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii on March 19, 2010, at the age of 88.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
organizer, who is credited with co-founding and developing the Merrie Monarch Festival
Merrie Monarch Festival
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts. He is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the...
. The Merrie Monarch Festival, which is held in Hilo, is Hawaii's premier hula
Hula
Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....
event. It was developed by Thompson and hula dancer, George Naope
George Na'ope
George Lanakilakekiahialii Naope , born in Kalihi, Hawaii, was a celebrated kumu hula, master Hawaiian chanter, and leading advocate and preservationist of native Hawaiian culture worldwide...
.
Dorothy Mae Elizabeth Soares was born on May 16, 1921, the youngest of five children. As a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 1937 she was named best female athlete of Hilo High School
Hilo High School
Hilo High School is a public, co-educational high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education, and serves grades nine through twelve. Established in 1906, its first class graduated in 1909. Hilo High School is near the Wailuku River in Hawaii County on the Big Island of Hawaii. The campus...
. She graduated from President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education and serves grades nine through twelve...
in Honolulu in 1939. She had four children with her husband Ronald Saiki. Her second husband was George Thompson.
Thompson served as the Merrie Monarch's executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
since 1968 with Naope. She remained the festival's head until her death in 2010. Thompson initially had to push hard for funds and media coverage during the festival's early years. Throughout her tenure as director of the festival, Thompson was careful to keep its main focus on hula. She kept admission prices low and resisted efforts to move Merrie Monarch from Hilo's Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium, where it has traditionally been held, to a larger facility.
Mayor of Hawaii
Mayor of Hawaii
The Mayor of Hawaii is the chief executive officer of the County of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii. He or she has municipal jurisdiction over the Big Island of Hawaii. The current mayor is Billy Kenoi...
Billy Kenoi proclaimed February 13, 2010, as Auntie Dottie Thompson Day.
Dorothy "Auntie Dottie" Thompson died from complication
Complication (medicine)
Complication, in medicine, is an unfavorable evolution of a disease, a health condition or a medical treatment. The disease can become worse in its severity or show a higher number of signs, symptoms or new pathological changes, become widespread throughout the body or affect other organ systems. A...
s from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at the Hilo Medical Center in Hilo, Hawaii on March 19, 2010, at the age of 88.