A surprising change will preserve and improve the saltwater swimming pool at the memorial inaugurated by Duke Kahanamoku.
25 thoughts on “Restoring Waikiki Natatorium at Sans Souci Beach”
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A surprising change will preserve and improve the saltwater swimming pool at the memorial inaugurated by Duke Kahanamoku.
Comments are closed.
I visit this area of Oahu often and reminds me of home as it has the same name as where I reside in Australia. The Nanatorium has so much history and more importantly it is a war memorial that needs to be preserved for future generations to remember those who served.
My favorite place in the world – Sans Souci beach! Would love to see the natatorium rebuilt! It’s history!
This is excellent news, Kaimana Beach and the Natatorium is probably my favorite spot in Hawai’i. If I might make a suggestion, instead of restoring the Natatorium with regular (Portland cement) concrete, which can be weakened over time by contact with salt water, take a lesson from the Romans. They used volcanic ash to make their concrete. Many of the structures that they built are still around 2000 years later, including ones that are in contact with salt water. It shouldn’t be hard to find volcanic ash in Hawai’i (Diamond Head is condensed volcanic ash). Aloha.
Hi Alan.
Thank you.
Aloha.
I am so happy to see it is going to be upgraded and restored for use
Please don’t forget to install a box jelly strainer.
Let’s hope they keep it simple and don’t destroy a nice, peaceful corner of Waikiki. There have been many proposals for schemes like turning it into a professional volleyball venue, building a huge parking lot next to it, and so on. Those who frequent Kaimana Beach and the small section of Kapi’olani Park next to it love it the way it is. Please – no more commercialism; no more mass entertainment. Leave something calm and peaceful for the people who don’t want bread and circuses. There’s plenty of that already.
Just another great metaphor for the complete and utter dysfunction of Hawaii government at practically every level. $9,000,000,000 (BILLION) for a boondoggle of a rail line in Honolulu that will probably never be completed–and rarely used by anyone but the homeless–and the decay and neglect of existing city, state, and county buildings and infrastructure are different sides of the exact same coin. Practically no other state in the entire country receive such a massive annual windfall of tax revenue–from people who don’t even live IN the state–and yet, it’s never enough. State and local governments blow it all on social programs–then borrow billions more on top of it. The state of Hawaii is essentially bankrupt at this very moment–by any practical measure: Billions debt, huge budget deficits, collapsed revenue due to their incompetent and short-sighted handling of the coronavirus. And yet the voters keep electing the same clowns over and over and over again–expecting different results.
The Natatorium will never be restored or rebuilt by the city, county, or state–because the lack not only the MONEY, but the WILL and the ABILITY to do it. They aren’t “doers”, they’re “talkers”. Sadly, the era of doers has long past us by. It’s why men like Elon Musk are so admired today: Because it’s SO rare to see someone actually DO something–something BIG–something BOLD–something innovative. We’ve all just become accustomed to the ceaseless talking… about things that NEED to be done–that SHOULD be done–but that never actually WILL get done. Where we need great leaders, we just have great politicians and career bureaucrats instead.
So just get used to the decay… because it’s here to stay.
Mahalo for this great article! I grew up on Paoakalani Avenue, yards from the Natatorium in the 50’s and love this memorial dearly.
Thank you for the update
The Natatorium is near and dear to my heart.
Hi Robin.
Thanks. Us too.
Aloha.
So many good memories of San Souci beach and The Natatorium growing up in Hawaii. We had many family picnics and swim outings at the Natatorium and San Souci beach long before it was finally closed down. Most of my brothers and sister learned how to swim there. I hope some day they find financial backing to restore and bring it back to life for all to enjoy again like so many of us did. It would make The Duke very Proud……