Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 5, 1 May 2010 — DOTTIE THOMPSON 1921-2010 Loving thoughts of Dorothy S. Thompson [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOTTIE THOMPSON 1921-2010 Loving thoughts of Dorothy S. Thompson

By Kumu Hula Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis As I sit quietly, my thoughts of love and admiration for Aunty Dottie Thompson overflow. Everyone knew her as a person of tenacity, and they are correct. She also was a person who always tried to be fair and to do what is right. Aunty Dottie worked very hard to make sure the Merrie Monarch Festival served everyone. The kumu were able to express their style of hula, and the people who could not go to Hilo were able to watch it on television. She always tried to be fair to all the hālau, from the oldest participants in the Festival to the newcomers. She ran a tight ship but always with love and respect for the kumu and their hālau. There were times when she was so overwhelmed, yet she always tried to understand eaeh person's point of view. I admire Aunty Dottie because she was never money-driven even though it was a real struggle at times. She gave eaeh hālau at the end of the Festival some seed

money to help them with the expenses of returning to Hilo the following year. She never made an issue

of this and always helped in her own quiet way. Aunty Dottie loved the culture and the people who helped her. Unele George Na'ope, Aunty 'Iolani Luahine, Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole and my mom, Kau'i Zuttermeister, were just a few people who loved her, believed in her and trusted her. They saw her sincere and honest approach to the Festival. I believe that Aunty Dottie never expected the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival to grow into the Festival it is today. The rental car businesses, the hotels, restaurants, shops, printers, T-shirt designers, craft people and so many more have Aunty Dottie to thank for the weeklong Festival whieh brings revenue into Hilo. She was always happy to help the people of Hilo, and in turn they

appreciated and loved her. All of the kumu, musicians and even the television people were grateful to her for their start at the Festival. Aunty Dottie always remembered those who were not in the puhlie eye, for example, the people who set up the chairs in the stadium and the people who provided security. She never forgot to thank themand would always let them know how important they were. She was quite an amazing woman. I will miss talking with her and seeing her at the Festival. Aunty Dottie planted and nourished the seed, and now her daughter, Luana, has to protect and care for the plant. Aunty Dottie entrusted the Festival to Luana, and I know that Luana will honor her mother's legacy. Luana said to me that she will always try to do what is proper because her mother expects and trusts her to do so. I think Aunty Dottie expects all of us to do what we must to uphold and protect the Hawaiian culture. Aunty Dottie worked so hard to help so many, and through her efforts she, along with Unele George Na'ope, created the premiere showcase for hula in a small rainy town called Hilo, now referred to as the hula capital of the world! It is said that we ean better judge a person by his or her past. Aunty Dottie will always be thought of with love, appreciation and gratitude for what she left behind. I love you, Aunty Dottie. Thank you for all that you have done for so many of us. Your name will live forever in the hula world - a name spoken with respect and love. ■

Dorothy S. Thompson with Kumu Hula Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis. - Courtesyphoto