Creating a Memorial

THE COMMUNITY THAT CREATED THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL NATATORIUM

Natatorium Home
The Veterans
How you can help
News Archive
Demo v. Restore
Restored Pool
Save The Beach
The Timeline
In Other Words...
Quick Facts
The Real Costs
Other Ocean Pools
Legal
Save the Parking
Current condition
The Original Concept

More About the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium

The idea of the memorial started in March 1918 by the Daughters and Sons of Hawaiian Warriors and gained momentum as the war came to a close in November 1918. In late November 1918, a Memorial Commission considered many different types of memorials: fountains, auditoriums, monuments and museums. The former Irwin property on Waikiki beach was deemed the most appropriate place for the memorial. By April 29, 1919, the Territory of Hawaii purchased the land from the Irwin estate for the memorial to honor the men and women of Hawaii who served during the "The Great War."

According the Historical Commission's Hawaii in the World War by Ralph S. Kuykendall, "The committee devoted much time and thought to consideration of the subject, and brought its deliberations to a conclusion just on the eve of the opening of the 1921 legislative session."

The concept, according to Kuykendall, "called for a memorial natatorium with a pavilion and attractive landscaping of Memorial Park, the swimming pool itself to be of Olympic proportions."

Act 15 of the 1921 Territorial Legislature set aside the funds for the memorial and set forth its required design elements: its location and that it "contain a swimming course of at least 100 meters."

The memorial concept was chosen after thoughtful debate, input and research by the leaders of Hawaii's business, government and charitable organizations. Their names are below.