The Natatorium: Why does it exist? How was it built on the Waikiki coastline? What are the plans to renew it and reopen it as a family swimming venue honoring Hawaii’s and America’s veterans? Historic Hawaii Foundation hosted a Zoom seminar on Feb. 26 exploring all of those questions as part of its 38th Annual Experts Historic Preservation Lecture Series. The presenters were Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium, and Jill Byus Radke, a historic preservation specialist and expert on the history of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. If you didn’t catch it live, click on the
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Monthly Archives February 2025
Farewell and Mahalo, Jim Becker!
Journalist Jim Becker, who died Feb. 7 at 98, covered a lot of important people and stories in his career: The Korean War. Jackie Robinson’s first game in the majors. The exile of the Dalai Lama. Highlights of his amazing career with the Associated Press and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin are recounted in an AP obituary. Jim was also fond of recalling his coverage of an early 1950s swim meet at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium with no fewer than five world-record holders, all from Hawaii. In an oral history interview with Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium,
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