The city and state announcement last week that they want to raze the Natatorium was a kick in the gut to supporters of the War Memorial. One of them is Mo Radke, 30-year Navy veteran, former command master chief of the Pacific Fleet and now a board member of Friends of the Natatorium. The roots of Mo’s disappointment are in his deep respect for those who preceded him in our nation’s service. He has now written about that respect, and that disappointment, in “Honor, Courage and Commitment,” an opinion piece for Honolulu Civil Beat. “I have a granddaughter who is
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Archives for Friends of the Natatorium
Today's Natatorium News: Speak Your Mind Now!
This is terribly disappointing. But this is not over. The mayor and governor announced today that they are restarting the city’s environmental impact study. But there have already been multiple studies. They show that you can’t demolish the pool and build a new beach without breaking the law. And not just one law: lots of them, state and federal. If this study is done correctly, it will reach the same conclusion. If it isn’t done correctly, well, the natatorium will have its day in court. The shame is that we’re wasting yet more time. We shouldn’t be fighting in court.
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Natatorium Lifeguards from 1942
Natatorium friend Noe Bell tells us that this lifeguard photo was taken on June 26, 1942. Noe’s father, Hiram N. Goldstein, is the handsome gentleman on the left in the back row, standing on the wall. Who’s who in this photo? Tell us in the comments!
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Down Under Natatorium cousins: Australia's ocean pools
Friends of the Natatorium Vice President Donna L. Ching is just back from a visit to Australia, where she says there are more than 30 ocean pools in the Sydney area alone. She swam in several Aussie “ocean baths,” and brought back photos for us. “They’re everywhere in Australia!” she says. “You’d think we could get it together and fix our one and only Natatorium!” Bondi Baths Perhaps the most famous of Sydney’s ocean pools are the Bondi Baths at the Bondi Icebergs Club at the south end of Bondi Beach. Bronte Beach pool Farther down the famous Coastal Walk
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Olympic champ/Natatorium friend Bill Smith has died
Sad news: Olympic gold medal swimmer and Hawai’i hero Bill Smith – a world record holder whose first competitive swimming experiences were in the waters of the Waikiki Natatorium – has died. Bill was 88 when he passed away Feb. 8, his family with him. Considered the world’s greatest swimmer for virtually all of the 1940s, William Melvin Smith was 15 when he started his competitive career at the Natatorium in 1939. Just a year later, he placed second in the mile swim at the AAU Nationals in California, where he met coaching legend Soichi Sakamoto. He later moved to
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Paddleboard race this Saturday at the Natatorium
Come one, come all and paddle THIS SATURDAY, Dec. 8, in the inaugural Diamond Head Classic Paddleboard Race from the War Memorial Natatorium to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The whole family will have fun on this 2.4-mile downwind run; it’s perfect for everyone from beginners to serious competitors. The Friends of the Natatorium will be there to play Reveille and signal the race’s 11 a.m. start. Details and a printable registration form can be found online here. Questions? Race coordinator Carl Kim can be reached at 808-754-6152. Come to paddle, or come to watch and cheer. It’ll be a blast!
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Services this Sunday for Lin Pang, 78, founding Friend of the Natatorium
We invite you to join his family, his many friends and us to honor the late Lin Pang at services this Sunday afternoon. Lin died on Oct. 27 at the age of 78. Linuce Pang was one of the founders, the first vice chairman, and then chairman and president of the Friends of the Natatorium. For 25 years, until he stepped down last year, he was an officer and director of the Friends and a stalwart, energetic, patient, diplomatic and wise advocate for the preservation, restoration and reopening of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. Services will be Sunday, Nov. 18,
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Video: The Natatorium on Veterans Day 2012
Many of you enjoyed the photos we posted of Sunday’s Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium. But you wanted more: You wanted video… Well, we deliver! Below (and here if you can’t see the embedded video) is a highlight reel, featuring the words of several of the veterans who spoke at the ceremony. Listen to what they have to say. They are quite inspiring. Many thanks to friend of the Natatorium Scott Wong for shooting the video and editing it so that you can have a sense of what we experienced at this important event. Mahalo, Scott! VFW Post 8616
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Veterans Day 2012 at the Natatorium: Photos
Mahalo to all who were able to attend the annual Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium on Sunday. And aloha to all who were there with us in spirit! It was a wonderful occasion, organized as always by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8616, with special support this year from the Riders of American Legion Post 17 and their motorcycles. The Friends of the Natatorium are honored to work with these outstanding veterans of service to our nation, some in World War II seven decades ago. A few select photos can be found here. Or you can see our entire
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You are invited: Veterans Day at the Natatorium
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice went into effect, ending World War I, known then as the Great War. After World War II, the annual Nov. 11 commemoration of that moment – until then known as Armistice Day – became Veterans Day. Since then, the holiday has recognized the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards of all U.S. wars. Still, World War I holds a special place in observances that day. In many places, we observe two consecutive minutes of silence at 11 a.m. local time. The first is
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