Marine Cpl. Marcus Smith plays "Taps."

Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the Natatorium on Sunday for our 22nd annual Memorial Day observance! It was a beautiful day and a memorable morning: thought-provoking addresses by our speakers, Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon and Kim Napier; beautiful, meaningful vocal and hula performances; the inspirational participation of our military men and women and the King’s Guard; the presence of so many veterans.

Here are just a few photographs from the ceremony. To see more on Flickr, click here. For a slideshow, click here. Another set of photos is available on Picasa here. A Picasa slideshow here.

Thanks again!

Hula Halau Olana and the 15th Air Wing Honor Guard.

Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon, commander, U.S. Army, Pacific.

The King's Guard

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High flyers launch themselves from the dive tower at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. Click the image to see a slideshow. Photo courtesy of the Hawai'i State Archives

Several of them show the Natatorium as it was meant to be: A living memorial to Hawai’i's honored war dead, a lively, active fun place where families and athletes and all of us could enjoy the freedom preserved for us by our warriors’ sacrifices.

For so many years, the Natatorium truly was the place to be.

It can be again. It should be again. For so many reasons: Because of the debt of honor we owe to the war dead and our veterans. Because of the Natatorium’s contributions to our history and culture. Because any other choice would be financially, legally and environmentally irresponsible.

And just because it would be a great place to be.

Related posts:

1. Photos from the Natatorium’s Memorial Day Service

The Honolulu Weekly has posted a gallery of photos of the Natatorium at dawn, taken by photographer Laura Chartier.

She writes of another early morning visitor to the site who saw her shooting her images, approached and began telling her about his memories of “the days of Duke and when his family used to visit.”

“I could tell,” Laura writes, “the Natatorium was a special place for him, as it was for so many people.”

And as it could — and should, and can — be again.

The Natatorium at dawn, photo by Laura Chartier, copyright 2009 Honolulu Weekly

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1. Honolulu Weekly breaks in-depth story on the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium

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