A new tradition has begun. Bagpiper Kim Greeley patrolled the main gate of the Natatorium Friday at sunset, playing Coming Home and Amazing Grace before sounding Taps. She played in memory of more than 10,000 World War I veterans from Hawaii; it was in their honor that the Natatorium was conceived, built and opened in 1927 for the enjoyment of all Hawaii residents and visitors. The Friends of the Natatorium intend to repeat this remembrance ceremony most Friday evenings as the sun goes down. Kim and her pipes, or sometimes a bugler, will perform the somber, sorrowful and soulful traditional
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Archives for Events
See Natatorium Veterans Day Photos and TV Coverage
Mahalo to all who joined us on Veterans Day 2014! It was a moving and memorable observance. Veterans, serving military members and civilians joined together on the grounds outside the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium to pay tribute to those who have served our country. We thanked those veterans who were present. We remembered those who have fallen. We honored everyone who has worn the uniform of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. A Floral Tribute to the 10,000 This was the 18th consecutive year that the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616 has sponsored its Veterans Day
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Join Veterans for Veterans Day at the Natatorium
No more excuses. If you’ve always meant to join the VFW on Veterans Day to honor their comrades at arms, this is the year. Why? Because Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616 annually holds its Veterans Day observance at the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki. Because that special place is Hawaii’s official World War I memorial. And because this year is the 100th anniversary of the start of that terrible global war. It’s as simple as that. As important as that. So please join the VFW at the Natatorium on Veterans Day — Tuesday, Nov. 11 — at 11 a.m.
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Mahalo! Super Turnout for Natatorium Public Meeting
Many thanks to the many, many advocates for our War Memorial Natatorium who came out for last night’s public meeting! As you can see from the photo (and only about a half of our overwhelming turnout made it into the picture), the pro-Natatorium crowd made an impressive showing in our bright yellow “Remember-Respect-Renew” T-shirts. (The back of the shirts reads, “Save ‘em!” Note the logo of the National Trust for Historic Preservation on the left sleeves.) Among those who came out were veterans, including high-ranking leaders of the VFW and American Legion. There were surfers. Historic preservationists. Swimmers and water
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Environmental Impact Study, Events, Friends of the Natatorium, National Trust for Historic Preservation, News coverage, Uncategorized, and Veterans.
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact study, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Waikiki Natatorium, and WCP Inc..
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact study, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Waikiki Natatorium, and WCP Inc..
Come Out on July 21: Public Meeting on the Natatorium!
The Time has Come! We need you to stand up publicly on Monday, July 21, for repairing and reopening the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. An open public meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. that evening in the Kaimuki High School cafeteria at 2705 Kaimuki Ave. Please mark that date on your calendar right now! This two-hour meeting won’t determine the Natatorium’s fate, but it can get the conversation back on track. Here’s the background: Honolulu’s government wants to tear down the Natatorium. [Can you imagine? Demolish an official state war memorial?] Before it can act, the city is required by
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Elected officials, Environmental Impact Study, Events, Friends of the Natatorium, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Uncategorized.
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact statement, environmental impact study, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, National Treasure, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Waikiki Natatorium, and WCP Inc..
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact statement, environmental impact study, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, National Treasure, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Waikiki Natatorium, and WCP Inc..
Bullet Points for Natatorium Open Meeting
Bullet Points For Statements at the Open Meeting on the War Memorial Natatorium Hosted by WCP Inc. Monday, July 21, 6:30 p.m-8:30 p.m. Kaimuki High School cafeteria at 2705 Kaimuki Ave.
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Attend Natatorium Memorial Day May 25, 2014
There are many reasons to join us at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2014 for the Memorial Day observance at the Natatorium. Of course, there are always very good reasons to observe Memorial Day. In fact, there are about 1.3 million of them. That’s an estimate of the number of American men and women who have served and died in our nation’s armed conflicts. It is their memory that brings us to the Natatorium each May on the Sunday before the Memorial Day holiday. Their memory, and the obligation that we feel – the privilege we have – to
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Floral Tribute Links Swimming History with Veterans Day
A small, “small world” back story for Natatorium history buffs: The floral display that adorned the front gate of the War Memorial during Monday’s Veterans Day commemoration was provided by Sono Hirose, daughter of pioneer swimmer Takashi “Halo” Hirose. Additional flowers and accompanying lei were hung on the gate after the somber, ceremonial playing of Taps by Johnny Sanchez with Bugles Across America. Sono Hirose’s father Halo was one of Hall of Fame Coach Soichi Sakamoto’s prodigies from Maui, a competitor in many Natatorium meets and one of Hawai’i’s most celebrated swimmer/soldiers. Among other accomplishments, he was a world record
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Veterans Day 2013 at the Natatorium: Photos and TV Coverage
Mahalo to everyone — everyone! — who took part in a wonderful 17th Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium! A standing-room-only crowd of active duty soldiers, veterans from all branches, Young Marines from Kaneohe and civilians came together just outside the War Memorial’s gates to pay tribute to all those from Hawai’i who have served. They remembered especially the 10,000 World War I soldiers and sailors to whom the Natatorium itself is dedicated. First Photos Here is a look at some pictures of the event, and links to some of the local television coverage. We hope you can see yourself
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Join Us Monday: The 17th Veterans Day Ceremony at the Natatorium
WHAT and WHEN: At 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, join Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616, other veterans groups, the Friends of the Natatorium and the public for the VFW’s 17th annual Veterans Day Commemoration at the Natatorium. WHY: The armistice ending World War I was signed Nov. 11, 1918, near Compiègne, France, and went into effect later that morning, at what has become legendarily known as the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.” Originally commemorated as Armistice Day, the date has become known in the United States as Veterans Day. WHERE: In Honolulu’s Kapiolani
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