Hawai’i Magazine’s reporter seems to believe that demolition of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is a done deal, reporting yesterday that the battle has “seemingly reached an end.”
As we reported to you over the weekend, nothing could be further from the truth. The fight has simply shifted to other arenas, arenas the city does not control.
For more on that, see the letter to the editor from Peter Apo, president of the Friends of the Natatorium, in today’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin. It’s the third letter down here. As Peter points out, a legal expert from the National Trust for Historic Preservation has analyzed the situation and concluded that at least five federal environmental, commercial and historic preservation laws may protect the Natatorium. The NTHP said those statutes constitute “very significant legal constraints on any proposal for the city to demolish the Natatorium.”
If you agree with Peter, you might want to let Hawai’i Magazine know it’s not over by leaving a message in the comments at the bottom of this page.
Let’s all look forward to the day when the Natatorium will once again be a place for scenes like this:
Fred Wong
Members of our VFW Post 8616 (THE Waikiki Post) held ceremonies at the Natatorium several weeks ago on the 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month. We do NOT want the Natatorium relegated to a “minor” memorial. If anything, it should be restored to something that the people of Honolulu in 1921 (approximate building date) envisioned, and fully reflect their long forgotten desires – An edifice of National Pride – which is why THEY contributed SO GENEROUSLY in 1921 dollars! Equivalent today would be???? Obviously our mayor disagrees. Its present condition is a civic shame!