Family tales on Natatorium add depth to documentary

My column last week on watermen "Dad" Center and Alexander Hume Ford prompted Donna L. Ching to write to me.

"I am working on a documentary film focusing on the swimming and ocean sports history of the Natatorium. Our film release date is timed to coincide with the Aug. 24 birthdays of the Natatorium (88 years old) and Duke Kaha­na­moku (125th birthday), the inaugural swimmer at the Nat," she told me.

After searches of the Bishop Museum and State Archives, she’s concluded that "the best images and personal stories are coming out of family collections." I thought readers of my column might have treasures to share for her film.

One such story that Ching shared with me was sent to her from Cali­for­nia by Jeri William, who recalled her mother, Violet Louis, practically lived at the Natatorium.

"My mom was born in 1917," William said, "watched the pool being built and was one of the first to swim in, compete and work as lifeguard and swim instructor (keiki to servicemen).

"She lived at the pool — throughout high school and beyond. Mom was a singer and performed with various big bands at Lau Yee Chai, and also sang on radio shows. Before she did anything — school, work or entertain (sing) — she would go to the ‘tank’ for a swim.

"I remember one story she told me when I was growing up. She woke up one Sunday after a singing gig and told my grandma, ‘See you later, going swimming at the Nat.’

"My grandmother was outside hanging clothes on the line, turned and looked at my mom and said, ‘You’re not going anywhere. Look at the sky. We are being bombed!’

"She told me all she could see flying overhead was the glimmer of the rising sun on the bomber planes en route to the various targets on the island. That was probably one of the few days she didn’t swim.

"The Natatorium was always like a sibling, a member of the family to us, a place of life and healing, from her early days, to the war and beyond, good times and bad.

"My mom worked at Hickam Field Quarter Master office — which had been bombed and destroyed. When they were finally let back in to ‘salvage’ what could be — watching endless trucks go by with body bags and toe tags — my mom always said she would always go to the pool to swim to clear her mind.

"The Natatorium served as her aid in PTSD, which she definitely suffered from — too much death and destruction.

"In regards to the high dive, she never really did a lot of diving. Her coaches advised that it would interfere with training of the wrong muscle groups. She had a box full of medals — their coaching worked.

"She also said that they gave swim lessons to many of the troops who were stationed on the island. Many had never seen the ocean or a swimming pool.

"My favorite photo," William said, "is of my mom diving into the water at the pool’s edge. I believe that was her favorite photo, too. She made a copy of it when I was in my 30s as a surprise birthday gift to me.

"She told me that this was the happiest moment in her life, she loved swimming, that pool and everything it represented and her home of Oahu — a true island girl. I will always cherish that picture and my mom’s memory."

Following World War I, many in Hawaii considered building a memorial to honor the 101 people from Hawaii who died in the war and the more than 10,000 who served.

Statues, fountains and auditoriums were considered. Alexander Hume Ford — last week’s subject — played a role in selecting the site. The Irwin family beach property in Wai­kiki was picked up for a very reasonable $200,000 and the building erected for about $250,000.

There was some practicality in the choice. Hawaii had some of the best swimmers in the world, but swim meets 100 years ago were often held in Hono­lulu Harbor, a less than ideal setting. A natatorium — a building that houses a swimming pool — made sense.

The Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium opened Aug. 24, 1927. Duke Kaha­na­moku celebrated his 37th birthday with the first ceremonial swim in front of 7,000 cheering spectators.

He emerged to a thunderous ovation, The Hono­lulu Advertiser wrote.

"It was an unforgettable moment — the man who symbolized the Hawaiian people to the rest of the world, opening a memorial whose design captured so well the character of the Territory and its relationship to the sea."

According to Ralph Kuy­kendall’s "Hawaii in the World War," the "national swimming championships then started, and during this and the three following evenings, the best swimmers of the United States and Japan tested the quality of the swimming pool.

"Their enthusiastic praise and the breaking of a dozen records gave the Natatorium an appropriate inauguration."

The Natatorium was not well designed or maintained, and within a few years had problems. It closed in 1979. A complete renovation was funded and begun in the late 1990s but only partially completed before legal squabbles and a new city administration stopped the work. Natatorium advocates and detractors disagree about what to do.

If my readers have stories, photos or videos of the Natatorium to share, please drop me a line, and I’ll pass them along. Or, send directly to natatorium@natatorium.org.

Bob Sigall, author of the “Companies We Keep” books, looks through his collection of old photos to tell stories each Friday of Hawaii people, places and companies. Email him at Sigall@Yahoo.com.