This site is supported by the Friends of the Natatorium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1986. The Friends’ purpose is to encourage public stewardship of the War Memorial Natatorium — including its preservation, restoration and maintenance — and to advocate for its intended use as a living memorial open to the public. You may reach us at info@natatorium.org.
Media inquiries may be made to Donna L. Ching at (808) 384-4070 or info@natatorium.org.
Other telephone inquiries may be made to Mo Radke at (808) 386-3500.
Postal correspondence, including contributions made by personal check, may be sent to:
Friends of the Natatorium Jennifer McGinnis, Treasurer PO Box 25715 Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
2023 Board of Directors Maurice “Mo” Radke, President Donna L. Ching, Vice President Jennifer McGinnis, Treasurer Nicole Hudspeth, Secretary Frank Weight, Director Vacant, Director Vacant, Director
Carrie
Is there a way to make a small donation to this organization?
thomas barrett
I have traveled for more than 30 yrs to honolulu, I hope this site will be saved and not turned into a beach. how can i help from the mainland, I live in arizona
natatorium
Thomas, thank you! You can help a number of ways. Write a letter to the editor of the Advertiser (letters@honoluluadvertiser.com) and/or Star-Bulletin (letters@starbulletin.com). Join the Friends of the Natatorium so you can help us when we need folks to make calls or write to elected officials. Or make a contribution by hitting the “donate” button on our web site. Mahalo!
Diane James
In Washington State there is a pool called Colman Park Pool. It was left to the state (Seattle Parks and Rec.) When the owner of the pool and land passed away, he left the pool and surrounding area to the city on the grounds that the pool was left a certain percentage saltwater. It is a 50 meter pool and is even heated during the summer. Seems there should be a way to use that method with the Natatorium. Thank you for you time. http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Aquatics/colman.htm
natatorium
Hi Diane, thanks for sharing this. There are, in fact many salt water pools around the world that are well-used, well-maintained and well-loved. Let’s not be short-sighted and lose this wonderful recreational asset!
Eve M.
Check out https://natatorium.org/contribute/ for instructions!
Brian T
Carrie, there is- at the top you will see a tab labeled ‘contribution’.
Mike Ang
As part of the Gigapan community and the Hawaii Pacific University Gigapan group, I’d like to find out how how I may be able to go about getting permission to access the premises so as to be able to document the Natatorium with Gigapan technology. Here is an example of what Gigapan is about – http://gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=16209 The project theme is to document Hawaii’s architectural icons. Professor Peter Britos, HPU Multimedia Chairperson is supervising this program. http://www.hpu.edu/index.cfm?section=acadprograms11760&contentID=11760&siteID=1&preview=1 I am planning to do this within the next couple of weeks if possible. I’d appreciate if someone could get in touch with me or point me in the right direction. Thank you.
Jessica
Is there some way that I can find out about a name that is @ the natatorium? I have a great great uncle who’s name is there and I am trying to find out his name. I just have the last name…
depeiffer
I know it isn’t possible to swim here, but I want to know if you are allowed to visit and tour the site?
Thank You
natatorium
Sadly, no one except city officials are allowed inside the pool area and onto the deck and bleachers. The renovated bathrooms, however, are in full use and accessible to all. As a first step to restoring the pool for swimming, we would love to stabilize the deck area sufficiently to allow people to use the bleachers and enjoy the Natatorium’s panoramic views of Mamala Bay and Waikiki. Thanks for spreading the word about how wonderful it would be to use the Natatorium once more.
Fred Wong
Most of us who have lived here a while have used this pool and are dismayed that it has gone for years in such a state of disrepair. Efforts of the previous administration and their “shibai” bureaucratic efforts leading to a sham EIS are not in Hawaii’s interests let alone endorsed by veteran’s organizations. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE ONE OF THE ONLY cities in the country with the distinction of TEARING DOWN OR OTHERWISE SEVERELY MODIFYING A WORLD CLASS HISTORIC WAR MEMORIAL to make a pittance of room for adjacent beach goers! VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, POST 8616, A Natatorium neighbor
Tim Waggener
There are so many wonderful possibilities for the pool itself, but I envision the bleachers as Hawaii’s version of Rome’s “Spanish Steps” or Perugia’s “Le Scale.” People could come in and play music, hang out, watch the sunset, etc.
Albert A Daw Jr
I wished to help raise money i live in Alabama and come from a long line of Service people!! And i would like to Keep a promise I made to a friend that is from there and maried a young army men there! Please someone call me!!!
admin
Your comment is so timely and generous! We are about to launch a national campaign for legal defense and restoration funding. I will connect you with our Development Chairman. Mahalo!
BARBARA CAMELI
Hi, I used to live on Oahu and remember the days of swimming in the Natatorium and have always hoped that somehow it could be restored and brought back to use for the people of Hawaii as well as our visitors. I just saw an article in the August edition of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine ( page 24) on a historical pool in Paris that has been brought back to its former glory by allowing development in and around the pool. The development included a restuarant, a spa and a hotel with rooms overlooking the pool. By creating a destination, the pool once again has been brought back to life and has a way to sustain it’s self. I found this to be very interesting and wondered if somehow this could be the answer for our historic treasure. Aloha, Barbara Cameli Kailua Kona, HI
admin
Barbara, thanks for your comment and support. You are one of many kama’aina who have fond memories of swimming in the Natatorium with their friends and family. Commercial activity is not allowed in Kapiolani Park (which is a good thing!) but that does not mean the Natatorium cannot be renovated. The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently named our War Memorial a National Treasure and more support from across the country is coming in. In February 2014, a marine contractor and structural engineer provided a $20M cost estimate to renovate and reopen a tide-circulated Natatorium. We are confident that a public private partnership can raise that with no problem! We just need the political will to do it. Thanks for asking your friends to help out and let the City know you want the Memorial saved. Here’s instructions on what you can do. https://natatorium.org/natatorium-eis-comments/