A natatorium was erected along with arches in 1927 to honor the veterans of World War I but the pool was closed in 1979 after being deemed a health and safety hazard. Restoring the natatorium to full glory would be prohibitively expensive, so at long last, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell have agreed on the most realistic alternative: tear down the crumbling natatorium, move the memorial’s arches inland along Kapiolani Park, and create a new public beach.

While Abercrombie’s earlier idea of building a world-class beach volleyball court with bleachers was intriguing, the more sensible decision is removing the dilapidated natatorium and moving the facade, or archway, closer to a large stone bearing a plaque commemorating the veterans in the adjoining parking lot. Indeed, a task force assigned in 2009 by then-Mayor Mufi Hannemann essentially recommended three years ago what Abercrombie and Caldwell have now chosen.

The cost of restoring the natatorium structure, rebuilding the pool, had been estimated at nearly $70 million and could have been even more costly. Even then, the state Health Department has determined that it would not be feasible to assure health conditions in a saltwater pool. The pool area is full of large cracks, crumbling rocks and debris — and is inaccessible and unused by the public because of its dangers.

The current plan to remove the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium and move the arches could begin by 2015 on state-owned land. The natatorium has been owned by the state and operated by the city under an executive order.

The plan includes replacing the natatorium with a beach 200 feet along the shoreline and 100 feet wide; a partially completed $1.2 million environmental impact statement that will be restarted should determine the feasibility. The city has signaled willingness to pay for the estimated $18.4 million project, but it seems only fair that the state fund some part of it since the monument sits on its land.

The Kaimana Beach Coalition was formed in favor of removing the natatorium and turning it into a public beach park. James Bickerton, the group’s attorney, said returning the area to its surroundings would create "a last little peaceful oasis and outlet for people who live in a very crowded environment."

The Oahu Veterans Council, comprising 35 veteran groups with more than 80,000 members, has insisted that demolishing the natatorium would be offensive to the military. On the contrary, maintaining the arches next to the plaque as the symbolic gateway to a publicly enjoyed memorial beach would be a living legacy to the heroism of the veterans.

Further, as Caldwell pointed out, this agreement "is about honoring them and not dishonoring them with a crumbling facility that no one can use and is really an eyesore for everyone who stands anywhere in Waikiki and looks Diamond Head." Indeed, Abercrombie’s longtime support of the veterans memorial is consistent with the decision to move the arches.

The agreement of city and state is based on the reality that the ocean is no longer kind to a natatorium beyond repair and the site probably is best as a beach. Creating a pool where Duke Kahanamoku swam and making it a salute to veterans was certainly honorable 86 years ago, but leaving it to languish further is not. While the memorial’s contours are being forced to change, the respect for veterans is indisputable, and forever.