HONOLULU -- Hawaii lost a living treasure. Big Island resident Dorothy Thompson, affectionately known as "Auntie Dottie," was a driving force behind the Big Island's Merrie Monarch Festival.

Thompson died in Hilo early Friday evening, her daughter said. She was 88.

Over a span of three decades, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival and Thompson have been a big part of the lives of KITV's ohana.

Thompson made her final appearance before the hula dancers she loved last year. She, along with 'Uncle' George Naope, co-founder of the competition, received a standing ovation at the 2009 event. Naope died after a long bout with illness in October.

The Merrie Monarch is named after King David Kalakaua, who was committed to keep the hula alive.

Through Thompson and Naope's efforts, the festival was saved from going dark many years ago.

"I had read about it in the paper, that they were going to do away with the hula and I called Helene Hale and I said we cannot let it die," Thompson told KITV years ago. "So in 1970, George and I went to Honolulu, because we said, 'let's do what Kalakaua did and bring all the dancers from every islands,' and when we met with Louise Kaleiki and Pauline Kakahuna and they wanted a competition. So, we came back to Hilo and that's how it got started with nine halau."

The year was 1971. The show took place in the Hilo Civic Auditorium. Leimomi Ho was one of those first dancers.

"We were so shook up, but yet inside of us we were one mind and thought, and one heart, that we were in this together," Ho said.

The festival evolved through the years. The competition now spans three days. The first night, usually the Thursday after Easter, young women compete for the title of Miss Aloha Hula. The Friday night performances feature the hula kahiko, or traditional dance. Dancers perform the hula auana, or modern dance, on the final night with award presentations.

A new era began when the competition was first opened to men (kane).

Thompson's daughter, Luana, recalled the turning point.

"In 1976, we invited our first kane hula group. The Merrie Monarch took off after that. It became so popular we could not house all the interested people. We had to move it to the stadium," Luana Thompson said.

The festival was televised live for the first time in 1980.

In recent years, the festival has been live streamed over the Internet and seen by people across the world. Last year's first was high-definition broadcasting.

"This is my mom's legacy and I want to do her the honor and that's why I try to make this festival a success," Luana Thompson said.

Dottie Thompson will forever be remembered for her passion to keep the integrity of hula intact.

King Kalakaua wrote, "Hula is the language of the heart and therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people."

"The kumu hulas, because we started it, they are very loyal and they feel it belongs here, and I am so proud that they think like that. Hula is alive!" Dottie Thompson said.