WWI commemoration includes renovating natatorium wall

An effort is underway to spruce up the crumbling Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium as part of the nation’s World War I Centennial celebration by replacing one of its dilapidated 130-foot wooden walls and decorating it with public art honoring Hawaii’s contributions in World War I.

The United States World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum &Library announced Wednesday that the natatorium had been selected for 100 Cites/100 Memorials. The program, which is an outgrowth of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, offers matching grants of up to $2,000 for the restoration of 100 World War I memorials across the United States.

World War I started in 1914 and ended on Nov. 11, 1918. An estimated 4.7 million Americans served in the war, which took some 17 million lives.

Organizers say the goal for the natatorium’s new security wall, made of 32 sheets of 8-by-4-foot plywood, is to “honor the service of more than 10,000 war volunteers from Hawaii, actions on the home front and the outpouring of support from the then-territory for the U.S. war effort.”

The circa-1927 natatorium is on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Treasure list. The trust is working with Friends of the Natatorium and other local and national supporters to restore the public swimming venue to former days when it served as a “living memorial,” a place where people could go to enjoy their lives and reflect on the sacrifices of Hawaii’s WWI volunteers. Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku was the first to swim at the memorial pool, which closed in 1979.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a plan in 2013 to demolish the pool and bleachers and replace them with a public memorial beach. That plan is still being vetted.

The city is considering four alternatives: do nothing; demolish all but the arches; reconstruct the natatorium and open the pool; or reconstruct it without the pool.