Dr. Donnis Thompson is a name every female athlete at the University of Hawaii should know, for her accomplishments are written all over campus. Some you can see, like Thompson's Hall of Fame plaque on display in the Stan Sheriff Center. There's also a bronze statue in her honor that lines the concourse.

Other feats aren't as obvious, like how she built the women's program at UH from nothing to eight sports by 1975.

"It was difficult at times. There were so many situations where, I was going thru new ground," said Thompson.

Dr. Thompson's efforts of the past make up the present Rainbow Wahine. It all started with a job offer when she was asked to put in motion the first women's sport at Manoa it's track team.

"It was like he wanted to know immediately and I had about 60 seconds to let him know my answer. And I think I didn't know what to do with the other 59 seconds," Thompson said.

Little did the Chicago native know her quick response would have long term effects. She coached from 1961 to 1964 then left to further her own education.

"When she left to get her doctorate, the program was eliminated. So it was heart breaking and disappointing when she came back and she really couldn't hold it in much longer," said UH Associate Athletics Director, Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano.

Dr. Thompson would revive Hawaii's program as the school's first women's athletics director in 1972. With a $5,000 budget she'd launch two women's sports, track and field and volleyball, but her work would mean more as she teamed up with congresswoman Patsy Mink.

"We would talk about what we needed to do for women's athletics and so on, and she would listen to the things I had to say and did what she could to make those things happen," Thompson said.

Dr. Thompson's wish list for Hawaii mirrored the Title IX legislation that Mink co-authored and helped pass in 1972. The two friends became champions of equality for women's sports. The now 75 year old, once proved her point, by taking a stand for a Rainbow Wahine who was punished for exposing her belly button.

"She had been put out of the swimming pool because she showed her navel and that was a rule at the University. This is sexism and ridiculous. What's the difference male navel and female navel," Thompson said.

Dr. Thompson found ways to create a level playing field any way she could. Decades ago she dared to do what no one had done before. She charged admission for a women's event, a Wahine volleyball match against a big time opponent.

"They went to the Neal Blaisdell Center and had a game there in the late 70's and it was sold it out. UCLA came down for that and that's how we started the rivalry with UCLA, " said Moniz-Kahoohanohano.

The Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team now boasts a school best four national titles. Hawaii's success is Dr. Thompson's signature. The women's program currently runs 12 sports on a $4-million budget. To this day, Dr. Thompson remains a visionary even though in the past month she's gone legally blind. She still sees unlimited possibilities in women's sports.

"It hasn't even touched the surface. It's going to be even greater than it is now," Thompson said.

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