Archives for Uncategorized

The fight goes on!

By now you’ve heard that the mayor’s task force voted this week to support demolishing the Natatorium and replacing it with a beach. This vote did not surprise us; the lines in the sand were drawn early. We knew that the battle was uphill, given that this was the mayor’s own task force and that the mayor advocates demolition. The vote does nothing to change our position on preservation of the Natatorium. It does nothing to quell the vigor with which we are working to block attempts by the city to demolish the War Memorial. If and when Mayor Hannemann
Read More

Categories: Statement and Uncategorized.

"Demolition by neglect" or "a beautiful place:" What's your choice?

Honolulu Advertiser columnist Lee Cataluna has published a great column decrying the “demolition by neglect” of some of Hawai’i’s great landmarks and cultural treasures. The Natatorium, she writes, doesn’t have to suffer the same fate. It can, she said, “again become a beautiful place that Hawai’i residents and visitors can enjoy. But it takes money, vision and, most of all, a collective will to make it so.” Read Lee’s column here. A question for you: Do we have that collective will? Tell us in the comments below what you think.
Read More

Categories: News coverage and Uncategorized.

TV coverage: Friends of the Natatorium say fight isn't over

KGMB9’s coverage of this week’s task force vote included a quote from Peter Apo, president of the Friends of the Natatorium, promising that we will continue the fight to save the Waikiki War Memorial at every opportunity, administrative and legal. This fight is far from over! Watch the story and tell us what you think.
Read More

Categories: News coverage and Uncategorized.

Star Bulletin Editorial Board: Mayor Should Rethink Natatorium Demolition

EDITORIAL Rethink Natatorium plan POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 29, 2009 Demolishing the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium might not be the inexpensive way to deal with the deteriorating landmark that Mayor Mufi Hannemann was advised it would be. Previously unforeseen costs of demolition should cause the city to instead consider renovating and maintaining the memorial when it becomes feasible in a recovered economy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is recommending restoration of the memorial, pointing out that demolition would involve extensive environmental studies that could result in rejection of such a course. The memorial was built in 1927 to
Read More

Categories: News coverage and Uncategorized.

Quick access to the Natatorium on Facebook

The Natatorium’s personal page on Facebook has a new custom URL: http://www.facebook.com/waikiki.natatorium The Natatorium also has a fan page on Facebook, which you can find at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Honolulu-HI/Waikiki-Natatorium-War-Memorial/11999212279?ref=ts Follow Natatorium news on either page!
Read More

Categories: Friends of the Natatorium and Uncategorized.

John Henry Felix's Memorial Day Service Address, May 24, 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
Read More

Categories: Events, Memorial Day, and Uncategorized.