Natatorium Note

In August 2005, we covered the Natatorium as one of the “9 Most Endangered Historic Sites in Hawaii,” a list of imperiled places determined by Historic Hawaii Foundation. In May of this year, we lamented the city’s foot-dragging over deciding what to do about the aging war memorial, be it renovation or removal (the salt-water pool has now been closed to public for 30 years, deemed too unsafe).

You may have missed the news yesterday while enjoying your holiday weekend, so I wanted to mention the article in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin, covering how Mayor Mufi Hannemann has accepted the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium Task Force’s recommendation to tear down all but the archway of the Natatorium.

The bleachers and salt-water pool are to be removed, replaced with a beach.