Myron Bennett "Pinky" Thompson (February 29, 1924 – December 25, 2001)^[1] was an American Hawaiian social worker, community leader and cultural leader among the Native Hawaiians. He is best known for his work as a member of the Board of Trustees of Bishop Estate (now known as Kamehameha Schools).^[2]

Myron Bennett "Pinky" Thompson was born on February 29, 1924, in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.^[1] Thompson graduated from Punahou School in 1943 and received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Colby College in 1950, and a master's degree in social work from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1952.^[1]

He married Laura Kalaukapu Low Lucas on February 21, 1949 in Augusta, Maine, she was the daughter of pioneering Hawaiian social worker Clorinda Low Lucas.^[3][4][5] Thompson is the father of master wayfinder Nainoa Thompson, who made several trans-Polynesian voyages as the navigator of the canoes Hokulea and Hawaiiloa.^[3] The younger Thompson leads the Polynesian Voyaging Society and sits on the Board of Trustees of Kamehameha Schools.

His community leadership posts include:

• Executive director of the Queen Liliʻuokalani Children's Center (1962–1967)
• State administrator under Gov. John A. Burns (1967–1970)
• Executive director of the Hawaiʻi State Department of Social Services & Housing (1970–1974)
• Trustee of Bishop Estate (1974–1994).^[3] In this capacity he developed early childhood programs, the cancellation of which in the late 1990s led to a controversy that sparked major changes in the trust.
• Co-founder of Alu Like and Papa Ola Lokahi, the Native Hawaiian health care system^[1]
• President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (1979–2001)^[1]

He died after a battle with cancer on December 25, 2001, at Queen's Medical Center.^[1]

• Profile on Pinky Thompson from the Polynesian Voyaging Society