Monthly Archives May 2009

“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
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Advertiser Reporter Mary Vorsino in a May 17th article and Columnist David Shapiro on May 20th claimed that the Friends of the Natatorium intend to use the 21st Annual Memorial Day Service on May 24, 2009 to “launch a last-ditch fundraising drive.”   For two decades, the Napoleon/Weight Ohana and Friends of the Natatorium have faithfully organized this annual observance and invited the public to honor our collective commitment to remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. We have and would never profane such a solemn and important occasion with fundraising. On May 27, 2009, the Advertiser issued
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  21ST ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE AT THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM Sunday, May 24, 10 a.m. “Kupa’a i ke kuleana, Ka ‘ihi, Ka mahalo, a me ke kupili” Committed to Responsibility, Respect, Reverence and Reason   Since 1989, the Friends of the Natatorium have sponsored this annual Memorial Day Weekend ceremony in memory of Hawaii’s beloved lost from all American wars and in honor of the state’s military veterans. This highly visual ceremony at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium annually attracts hundreds to the state’s official memorial to the 101 from Hawaii who died in World War I. The
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