It’ll be a busy hour on a busy day in the midst of a busy week. But it would be well worth your time to stop by the Veterans Day observance at the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki. The brief ceremony is scheduled, of course, for 11 a.m. this Wednesday, Nov. 11 – the traditional 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. That’s the day and time in 1918 when the armistice ending World War I took effect. This will be the 19th annual Veterans Day commemoration at the Natatorium sponsored by Honolulu’s Veterans of Foreign Wars
Read More
Archives for Veterans
National Veterans Organization Endorses Natatorium Preservation
We’re proud to announce that the 138,000-member National Association for Uniformed Services has endorsed our efforts to save, rehabilitate and reopen the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. NAUS is a nationwide veterans organization, founded in 1968 to advocate for veterans and to protect their benefits and those earned by those now in uniform. “The Right Thing to Do” In a letter to the Friends of the Natatorium, the association’s president and CEO, retired Marine lieutenant general Jack W. Klimp, called on government leaders in Honolulu and Hawaii “to look beyond the years of neglect and inactivity.” He urged them to adopt
Read More
Wow: What a Year for the Natatorium
A New Year’s Eve “Mahalo” for your outstanding support in 2014. This has been a year of important progress in the fight to save and reopen the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. An Amazing Year for the Natatorium In 2014, the National Trust for Historic Preservation declared the Natatorium one of America’s Treasures, and put its resources – and its terrific, experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated staff – behind our effort. In 2014, you turned out in large numbers for an open meeting on the city’s environmental impact study, demonstrating major public support for the preservation option. In 2014, you – more
Read More
Solemn Sunsets: Bagpipes at the Natatorium
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
Read More
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
Read More
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.
Read More
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
Read More
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..
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
Read More
Natatorium backer, Friends leader Ron Yasui has died
A memorial service will be held this Saturday, April 12, for one of the Friends of the Natatorium’s first members and most dedicated activists, Ron Yasui. Ron died March 15 at age 78. A 1953 St Louis School graduate, Ronald Hiroshi Yasui joined the Marine Corps after high school and served in combat during the Korean War. After the war, he had a long career as an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration. “Ron was a gung-ho Marine and always for the underdog,” his younger brother Byron recalls. “He was that kind of guy.” Natatorium Activist Ron channeled
Read More
Friends of the Natatorium, Uncategorized, and Veterans.
obituary, Peter Apo, Ron Yasui, and Ronald Yasui.
obituary, Peter Apo, Ron Yasui, and Ronald Yasui.
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
Read More
