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BILL NO. 97
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE NAMING A BUILDING LOCATED AT THE HO`OLULU
COMPLEX, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 2-2-033:016, AND AMENDING CHAPTER
15,ARTICLE 8, SECTION 15-68.1 OF THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016
EDITION,AS AMENDED) RELATING TO THE PARKS AND RECREATIONAL
FACILITY SCHEDULE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this ordinance is to name a building located adjacent to the
Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luau Hale at the Ho`olulu Complex, situated in Hilo, District of South
Hilo, County of Hawai`i, State of Hawai`i, in honor of Dorothy Thompson, affectionately known
as "Aunty Dottie."
Aunty Dottie"was born Dorothy Mae Elizabeth Soares May 16, 1921, in Hilo and died
March 19, 2010, in Hilo. A renowned multi-sport athlete in her youth, she was an employee with
the Department of Parks and Recreation for more than 30 years, retiring in 1980 as head of the
culture and arts division.
Planning for the first Merrie Monarch Festival, in 1964, began in 1963 under the
direction of co-founders Helene Hale, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, her Executive
Assistant Gene Wilhelm, and Promoter of Activities George Na`ope. The festival was
established to honor the late King David Kalakaua, and to support Hilo's recovery from a
devastating tsunami in 1960. Due to a change in executive administration, from 1965 to 1968,
the festival became a project of the Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce. Declining interest in
the festival after 1968 led the Chamber of Commerce to consider discontinuing the festival,
when Aunty Dottie stepped up to form and lead a nonprofit organization dedicated to the Merrie
Monarch Festival. The early years of the festival featured live entertainment, a King Kalakaua
beard competition, and a barbershop quartet contest. After reaching an agreement with the
leading hula masters of the time, she introduced the first hula competition in 1971, which took
place at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (formerly the Hilo Civic Auditorium).
The Merrie Monarch Festival grew slowly at first, but exploded in popularity following
the Second Hawaiian Renaissance in the 1970s, the addition of the Kane Division in 1976, the
move to the Edith Kanaka`ole Multi-purpose Stadium (formerly the Ho`olulu Tennis Stadium) in
1979, and the first live television broadcast in 1981. As the popularity of the festival spread, hula
gained respect as an art form that is now practiced around the world. For the last 47 years of her
exceptional life, Aunty Dottie led the festival as executive director. She was a strong leader who
resisted pressure to raise ticket prices or move to a larger venue. Her wide-brim straw hat,
bedecked with lei, was a constant presence at the side of the competition stage, but she always
redirected attention from herself to the performances on stage. The Merrie Monarch Festival,
now led by Aunty Dottie's family, continues her legacy.
Aunty Dottie was named a Living Legend in 1996 by the Department of Parks and
Recreation and was awarded the 2000 Outstanding Non-Hawaiian Perpetuating the Hawaiian
Culture Award by the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. "Auntie Dottie Thompson Day" was
proclaimed in the State of Hawai`i on April 17, 2004, and she was named a Living Treasure by
Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai`i in 2007. "Auntie Dottie Thompson Day" was proclaimed
again on February 13, 2010, in the County of Hawai`i. She received the YWCA Hawai`i Island
Remarkable Person award in 2010. A tree was planted in her memory in 2013 in Shibukawa City
formerly Ikaho-Machi), Japan, a Sister City to Hawaii County and home of the"King Kalakaua
the Merrie Monarch' Hula Festival."
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Chapter 15, Article 8, 15-67(a)(4)(B),which provides that any
structure may be named after a person who has "contributed significantly to the recreational
programs in the community in which the open area is located"; or"achieved significant
recognition on the national or international level"; or"accomplished significant achievements in
other fields of endeavor which have been of benefit to other persons,"the unnamed building
located on that real property covered by Tax Map Key: 2-2-033:016 shall be named the "Aunty
Dottie Thompson Hale."
SECTION 3. Chapter 15, article 8, section 15-68.1 of the Hawai`i County Code 1983
2016 Edition, as amended), is amended by adding a new facility to the "Hilo/Hamakua" section
to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
Aunty Dottie Thompson Hale"
SECTION 4. New material is underscored. In printing this ordinance, the underscoring
need not be included.
SECTION 5. If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person
or circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications
of the ordinance, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
this end, the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
SECTION 6. This ordinance shall take effect May 16, 2018.
INTRODUCED BY:
Yik
MEMBER, C WAI`I
Hawai`i
Date of Introduction:
Date of 1st Reading:
Date of 2nd Reading:
Effective Date:
REFERENCE Comm. 704
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