The city of Honolulu is starting work on Monday to correct what it describes as “hazardous conditions” caused by cracks in the walls of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. Now, of course, the Friends of the Natatorium support doing what is necessary to ensure the safety of swimmers on nearby Kaimana Beach. But isn’t it ironic? The city is acting now on an emergency basis to mitigate a safety problem it caused and could easily have prevented. The city neglected the Natatorium for decades. It allowed this historic icon and civic treasure to deteriorate. And – in 2005 – it
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Archives for Friends of the Natatorium
Oli and blowing on the Pu mark 84th birthday of the Natatorium
Here’s a slideshow of a commemoration Aug. 24 marking the 84th anniversary of the ceremonial opening of one of the state’s cultural and historic icons, the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. It was the Nat’s 84th birthday! Kahu Manu Mook offered the blowing of the Pu and Kahu Bradford Kaiwi Lum performed the Oli for those gathered at the Ewa end of Kaimana Beach, next to the Natatorium. The Natatorium is the state’s official memorial to more than 10,000 from Hawai’i who volunteered to serve in World War I and to 101 of them who died in the war. It was
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Cable TV air dates for Natatorium Memorial Day observance
If you missed the Friends of the Natatorium’s 23rd annual Memorial Day observance, here’s your chance to see it. If you were there and want to record a speech or performance you found particularly memorable, here’s how. The observance was taped for cable TV and will air this week on ‘Ōlelo Community Media . It was a truly inspiring commemoration of the servicemen and women, especially those from Hawai’i, who have died for our country. Here’s when and where to see it: Natatorium Memorial Day Service Broadcast Schedule Tuesday, June 28: 1 p.m. on OAHU 52 Thursday, June 30: 12
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Veterans need YOU this weekend: Volunteer for the National Veterans Golden Age Games
The National Veterans Golden Age Games are coming to Hawai’i for the first time! Join the Friends of the Natatorium: We need you to help to make these games an incredible success. This sports festival for veterans 55 and older, to be held from this Thursday, May 26, through Tuesday, May 31, is drawing more than 700 veterans to our state from across the country. They’ll compete in 14 events from dominoes and checkers to bowling and table tennis to swimming, cycling, golf, shot put and discus. There are seven age groups, and divisions for veterans who use wheelchairs or
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Events, Memorial Day, Uncategorized, and Veterans.
Friends of the Natatorium, Memorial Day, and veterans.
Friends of the Natatorium, Memorial Day, and veterans.
Plan to be there: The Natatorium’s Memorial Day Observance, May 29
More reasons to look forward to the 23rd annual Memorial Day Observance at the Natatorium on Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m.: –We will hear from World War II veteran Ronald M. Oba. Ron, now 88, was a member of F Company of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the all-Japanese-American U.S. Army unit that fought in Italy, southern France and Germany and became the most decorated regiment in the history of the U.S. military. The retired hospital administrator is a former president of the 442nd Veterans Club and former editor of the 442nd Go for Broke Bulletin, named after
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Navy, Army vets elected Friends of the Natatorium directors
Two military veterans and civic leaders this week joined the board of directors of the Friends of the Natatorium, taking on leadership roles in the fight to restore, renew and reopen the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. The board elected Yvonne Geesey to fill the seat left empty by the recent death of longtime Natatorium supporter and veterans’ activist Fred Ballard. Maurice D. “Mo” Radke was chosen to fill the vacancy that is opening with the retirement of longtime board member and former President Lin Pang. (More later on Lin’s years of service to the Friends.) Geesey, who also replaces Ballard
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Mark your calendar: Natatorium Memorial Day observance on May 29
You are invited to the 23rd ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE AT THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUMSunday, May 29, 10 a.m. [Note: Sunday, not Monday] Please join the Friends of the Natatorium for this poignant and meaningful ceremony, which is open to all. Covered seating will be available. The observance, sponsored by the Friends since 1989, recognizes the sacrifice of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guards and the triumph of the freedom and democratic values they fought to defend. This year’s event keynote speaker is Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific. A Marine Corps rifle detail
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Natatorium stalwart, veterans leader Fred Ballard has died
Sad news: A stalwart supporter of the Natatorium and one of Hawai’i’s leading activists on veterans’ issues has died. Fred W. Ballard, who suffered from pancreatic cancer, passed away on Sunday, April 17. He was 72. Fred served from 1995 until his death as a board member of the Friends of the Natatorium. He was our longtime board secretary. He was a leader and a constant source of strength to us in the fight for the preservation and restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the official memorial to more than 10,000 soldiers and sailors from Hawai’i who served in
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Tuesday: Make a call (or 3) for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial
A reminder: Historic Preservation Awareness Day is today –Tuesday, March 22 — from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on the third floor of the State Capitol in Honolulu. The Friends of the Natatorium will be there, along with more than 40 other organizations, talking to legislators, staff, other state officials and Capitol visitors about the importance of preserving culturally and historically important sites in Hawai’i. Tuesday would be a perfect day for you to make a quick call to Legislative leadership just to say, “I wanted to call you on Preservation Day to let you know I support restoring the
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Join Natatorium supporters at the State Capitol on March 22
Plan now to join the Friends of the Natatorium for a very important event at the State Capitol in Honolulu on Tuesday, March 22: the ninth annual Historic Preservation Awareness Day. This is our best chance each year to tell to the Natatorium’s story to senators and representatives, to legislative staff, and to Capitol visitors. And it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about the threats to other culturally and historically important sites throughout our state. From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the Friends of the Natatorium will be on the third floor of the Capitol with representatives of more than
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