HOUSE HONORS MERRIE MONARCH
FESTIVAL'S 50th Anniversary
Honolulu, Hawaii - Last
week the House honored the Merrie Monarch Festival on the historic occasion of
its 50th Anniversary. In the
early 1960s the late Hawaii Island Representative Helene Hale, along with
George Naope and Gene Wilhelm created the Merrie Monarch Festival as a way to
attract tourists after a devastating tidal wave wiped out Hilo's tourism
industry. In 1968, the late "Auntie Dottie" Thompson became the
Executive Director and inspired by King David Kalakaua's example brought the
best hula halaus throughout the islands to perform in Hilo.
Since then the
festival has expanded beyond the shores of
Hawaii and received worldwide recognition for its historical, cultural
and entertainment significance.. The Merrie Monarch festival was a cornerstone
of the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s and continues to be a catalyst to draw
together those committed to the hula and the advancement of the Hawaiian
culture.
"Auntie
Dottie's" daughter, Luana Kawelu, current President of the Merrie Monarch
Festival, was presented a resolution on the House floor in celebration of this
momentous occasion.
The resolution was
introduced and supported by Representatives Clift Tsuji, Cindy Evans, Mark Nakashima, Faye Hanohano, Nicole Lowen, and Richard Onishi.
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