Please join us this Sunday morning, May 30, for the 22nd annual Memorial Service at the Waikiki Natatorium.

We remember Hawai’i’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines with music, hula and oratory. And we do so at the place dedicated to their memory by the people of our state.

A music and hula prelude starts at 9:30 a.m. and our moving formal ceremony begins at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Ku pa’a i ka ho’ihi, ka ho’omana’o, me ka ho’ala,” or “Committed to Respect, Remembrance and Renewal.”

Our keynote speaker, representing veterans and active duty military personnel, will be Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon, Commander, U.S. Army, Pacific, and a highly decorated veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. General Mixon commands all U. S. Army active and reserve forces across the entire Pacific Theater.

Also speaking will be A. Kim Napier, editor of Honolulu Magazine. Participants include an Air Force honor guard and the King’s Guard Drill Team. There will be performances by Hula Halau Olana, Prince Kuhio Civic Club Chorale, Nalani Olds and others.

All are welcome, and covered seating will be available. Look for the tent in Kapiolani Park right outside the Natatorium’s gate. Bring your family, and invite your friends to join you in showing your respect and admiration for our military men and women. You will be glad you came. Mahalo.

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“82 years ago, Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic Legend and Hawaii’s original Ambassador of Aloha, inaugurated the Natatorium.  What a glorious day that was.

If he could be with us today, he would be appalled and deeply saddened by what he would see.  He would be outraged that our elected officials were considering demolition, because he had a deep aloha for what this Memorial stood for — reverence, honor and respect for those who defended us.”

— John Henry Felix from his remarks on May 24, 2009 at the 21st Annual Memorial Day Service at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium.

Watch more from his address:

Related posts:

1. Memorial Day Service on Sunday, May 24th, 10am
2. Waikiki Natatorium Memorial Day Service Honors Solemn Commitment to Remember Those Who Sacrificed
3. Save the Date! Memorial Day Service on Sunday, May 30th

Halau Hula Olana

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Major General Mason – Speech Excerpt at the Natatorium on May 25, 2008

In a moving speech (an excerpt here), Major General Mason tells how there are only 116 remaining WWI veterans.

Related posts:

1. Halau Hula Olana perform at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial Event, May 25, 2008
2. HPR reports on Memorial Day service at the Natatorium
3. Announcement for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial Service on May 25, 2008 at Sans Souci (Kaimana) Beach