There is much discussion about the future of the Waikiki Natatorium memorial. There are groups that want to spend money to restore the swimming pool; remove the swimming pool and make it a public/private event venue; or simply keep the World War I memorial arch and return the beach to nature for public use.

We feel the best use for the common public good would be to keep the memorial structure but return the beach to free public use.

Spending money turning the coastline to a tourist venue is just another way of squeezing the local public out of the last remaining open beach at Waikiki. Private clubs have taken the beach on the Diamond Head side of Kaimana Beach and the big hotels have squeezed public access to their beachfronts.

We need to preserve the memory of our veterans and keep the beach open for local public use.

John and Rita Shockley

Free Access Coalition

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