The Natatorium: Why does it exist? How was it built on the Waikiki coastline? What are the plans to renew it and reopen it as a family swimming venue honoring Hawaii’s and America’s veterans? Historic Hawaii Foundation hosted a Zoom seminar on Feb. 26 exploring all of those questions as part of its 38th Annual Experts Historic Preservation Lecture Series. The presenters were Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium, and Jill Byus Radke, a historic preservation specialist and expert on the history of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. If you didn’t catch it live, click on the
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Farewell and Mahalo, Jim Becker!
Journalist Jim Becker, who died Feb. 7 at 98, covered a lot of important people and stories in his career: The Korean War. Jackie Robinson’s first game in the majors. The exile of the Dalai Lama. Highlights of his amazing career with the Associated Press and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin are recounted in an AP obituary. Jim was also fond of recalling his coverage of an early 1950s swim meet at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium with no fewer than five world-record holders, all from Hawaii. In an oral history interview with Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium,
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Info on the 2022 Memorial Day Observance at the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium — Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m.
Here is everything you need to know on the 34th annual Memorial Day weekend observance at the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki: WHAT: A Memorial Day weekend commemoration of America’s war dead at Hawaii’s official World War I monument. A somber ceremony featuring a military color guard and rifle unit; veterans groups (including a Rolling Thunder veterans motorcycle group ride-in); hula performances; two distinguished speakers; a rifle volley; bag pipes; and the solemn bugle call Taps. WHEN: The 2022 commemoration begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 29. [Please note: This event is on Sunday, not on the official Monday
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A Memorial Day Message from the Friends of the Natatorium
This is the first year since 1989 that the Friends of the Natatorium have been unable to gather with veterans, active-duty service members, elected officials, and families to observe Memorial Day and honor fallen American warriors. Though the pandemic prevents us this year from joining hands and singing in their memory on the lawn outside the Natatorium, it can never stop us from honoring the men and women who, throughout American history, have made the most extraordinary sacrifice on our behalf. Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium, shares our thoughts with you on this Memorial Day weekend.
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Yes, we will observe Memorial Day and honor America’s war dead in 2020 — just differently
We are unshakable in our commitment always to honor those who died defending America. This Memorial Day weekend, however, our observance at the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki must be a little different. Out of concern for everyone’s safety – and especially for the health of our senior veterans – the Friends of the Natatorium will not hold its traditional ceremony outside the Natatorium this year. Instead, we welcome our friends from Celtic Kula Pipe Band of Hawaii, who will play an appropriate tribute to the fallen at the Natatorium at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, the day before
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Support the work of the Friends of the Natatorium. Mahalo!
Happy Thanksgiving! The Friends are truly grateful for your ongoing support of our work for the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki. We come to you now asking for your continued help. Earlier this month, the 23rd annual Veterans Day observance at the Natatorium celebrated Hawaii’s ex-service members living and dead, including, as you see in the photo, many members of Oahu veteran biking clubs. Just days before, the City and County of Honolulu released its environmental impact statement on the Natatorium, opting for preservation of Hawaii’s official state World War I memorial. The study began several years ago with the
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Mahalo, Natatorium supporters!
A note from Mo Radke, president of the Friends of the Natatorium Dear Friends, After years of study, the City and County of Honolulu has issued its final environmental impact statement on the Natatorium. And the news is terrific! The final document confirms the conclusions of the draft EIS: Honolulu should rehabilitate the War Memorial Natatorium and reopen it as a public swimming venue. The city said it now proposes to repair the memorial by pursuing the so-called perimeter deck option, retaining “as much of the physical structure that defines the historic integrity of the Natatorium as possible.” The perimeter
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Environmental Impact Study, Friends of the Natatorium, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Statement.
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact statement, environmental impact study, Fred Ballard, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, Kay Napoleon, Lin Pang, Nancy Bannick, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Roger Lee, Ron Yasui, and Ronald Yasui.
City and County of Honolulu, environmental impact statement, environmental impact study, Fred Ballard, Friends of the Natatorium, Historic Hawai'i Foundation, Kay Napoleon, Lin Pang, Nancy Bannick, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Roger Lee, Ron Yasui, and Ronald Yasui.
Honor our Veterans at the Natatorium, 11 a.m. on Monday — Veterans Day
On Nov. 11, 1918, Germany and the Allies signed an Armistice. The guns of World War I’s Western Front finally fell silent. After more than four years, the so-called Great War – in which an estimated 15 million to 18 million people died – was essentially over. It was 101 years ago this Monday. Observe Veterans Day at the Natatorium We in the United States now observe Veterans Day each Nov. 11, paying tribute – as well we should – to all those who have served our nation in uniform, both in war and in peace. But the remembrance of
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Attend the 2019 Memorial Day Observance, Sunday, May 26, at the Natatorium
Show up to honor American men and women who showed up and died for you. Join us for the 31st annual Memorial Day Weekend observance at the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki. We will gather on the lawn in front of the Natatorium at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 26, the day before Memorial Day. As always, we will honor all our nation’s war dead, an estimated 1.35 million men and women since the Revolutionary War. We have special affection for those from Hawaii, including more than 100 from the then-territory who died in service during World War I. This
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Action Alert: Send a Letter Now to Support Honolulu’s New Plan for the Natatorium
You’ve heard the good news: The City and County of Honolulu is now proposing a plan to preserve, repair and reopen the War Memorial Natatorium in Waikiki! The city’s recently released draft environmental impact statement chooses the so-called perimeter deck option for resolving the long, long, far-too-long stalemate on the Natatorium’s future. Thank you for making this happen! You Natatorium supporters have made your voices heard at every step in this process. Thanks to you, we’ve taken a fabulous leap forward. But we still need your help. We need you to write again. Please submit your comments to the city
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