The University of Hawai'i School of Social Work now bears the name of its acclaimed graduate, the late Myron "Pinkie" Thompson. - Photo: Courtesy of UH

UH School of Social Work
renamed for Myron Thompson

By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola Loa

It's official: University of Hawai'i School of Social Work at Mānoa has been renamed after illustrious alumnus and noted Native Hawaiian leader and humanitarian Myron B. Thompson.

UH regents in September approved the name change request initiated earlier this year with a resolution passed by state lawmakers. The renaming of the school was celebrated Dec. 9 with a gala dinner event at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which doubled as a fundraiser for a new Myron B. Thompson memorial scholarship endowment.

"Myron Thompson was an iconic figure, who represented compassion and so many other qualities which we strive to emulate in the field of social work," said Jon Matsuoka, Dean of the School of Social Work. In addressing the audience at the Hilton event, Matsuoka noted that several prominent Native Hawaiians in attendance – including OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona – were once mentored by the late Myron "Pinkie" Thompson.

The image of the late Myron "Pinkie" Thompson was on display at the Hilton, where UH School of Social Work alumna and OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona paid musical tribute to Thompson's accomplishments. - Photo: Courtesy of Carl Fujikawa

Matsuoka added, "Myron not only did amazing things in his career, but along the way he nurtured others. He was so pono, so full of integrity. He was ahead of his time in actualizing his vision for the Hawaiian community."

After receiving his master's in social work from UH in 1953, Thompson's career spanned more than three decades, which were well-remembered by friends and family members during the evening tribute.

Thompson did some of his most acclaimed work while heading the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center, where he and his colleagues observed that conventional social work approaches were frequently ineffective with their Native Hawaiian clientele. They formed a "cultural committee," which was initially met with skepticism from many social work professionals. The committee reviewed cases with kumu and scholar Mary Kawena Pukui. Out of this collaboration grew a revival of many indigenous practices, including ho'oponopono.

The importance of these practices in improving Native Hawaiian mental and physical health became the focus of Pukui's classic two-volume publication Nānā I Ke Kumu, still used today in curriculum at the school that now bears Thompson's name.

"This renaming reflects an important effort to indigenize social work curriculum and research," said Matsuoka. "Often we ask why social programs fail. It is because policies are based on flawed data imported from outside the region or methodologies not in touch with the people we are trying to help. So we are now tapping into the cultural base, teaching practices like ho'oponopono and feeding this indigenized research into more appropriate policy-making," Matsuoka added.

At the event marking the renaming of the UH School of Social Work for the late Myron Thompson, many recalled Thompson's mentorship. Speakers included OHA Chairperson Haunani Apoliona, who benefited from his mentorship, and Jon Matsuoka, Dean of the School of Social Work. - Photo: Courtesy of Carl Fujikawa

In 1975, Thompson helped launch Alu Like Inc. in its mission of helping Native Hawaiians with job training, health, housing, education and native rights. He also is noted for his work in establishing Papa Ola Lōkahi, the nonprofit Native Hawaiian health organization. In addition to many other positions, he served as administrative director to Gov. John A. Burns and director of the state Department of Social Services and Housing, and as trustee for the Bishop Estate, where he strove to highlight the importance of early education. Thompson passed away on Christmas Day of 2001.

Nainoa Thompson, son of Myron, was unable to make a scheduled appearance at the celebration fundraiser, although in prepared remarks, read to the audience by Matsuoka, the younger Thompson praised his father as both a visionary and a warm and loving family man.

Nainoa Thompson, known as a master navigator of the Hōkūle'a, followed in the footsteps of his father who first established the Polynesian Voyaging Society.

The move to rename the UH School of Social Work for Myron "Pinkie" Thompson began with informal discussions among community leaders and UH School of Social Work faculty. Support for the legislative resolution to make the name change was spearheaded by many Native Hawaiian organizations, including OHA.