WAIMEA, Hawaii >> Merrie Monarch Festival organizer Dorothy Thompson has been named one of six people winning the 2002 Richard Smart Community Achievement Awards, the Big Island Business Council announced. Merrie Monarch
organizer wins awardStar-Bulletin staff
Other winners are community volunteer Norman Sakata, community educators Gene Erger and Shigeko Chang, Fair Wind Cruises and Outrigger Waikoloa Beach hotel.
The awards honoring former Parker Ranch owner Richard Smart have been presented every two to three years since 1993 to people, organizations and businesses that contribute to the quality of life and economic stability of the Big Island.
Thompson received an award for Cultural and Historic Preservation for managing Merrie Monarch every year to 1968.
Sakata received a Special Service Award for involvement in numerous agencies such as the Boy Scouts and the Lions Eye Bank.
Erger and Chang receive Community Education Awards -- Erger for serving in numerous community events such as food festivals and singing contests, and Chang for pioneering home health care for seriously ill people.
Fair Wind, represented by its president, Puhi Dant, received an Environmental Protection Award for helping to keep Keauhou and Kealakekua bays clean during the 31 years the ship has sailed in Hawaii.
The Outrigger Waikoloa, represented by Assistant Manager Rodney Ito, received an award for Planning and Design for recent renovations which preserved historic sites and more than 50 types of native plants in the area.
The awards will be presented at 1:30 p.m. today at a tree-planting ceremony at Parker Ranch headquarters.