The endless wrangling over the future of the World War I memorial — also known as the Waikiki Natatorium — has been a war in itself, probably requiring a memorial of its own when it finally winds down.
But the city seems to be leaning toward an option now that offers the best prospects for a truce. On this Veterans Day holiday, a plan that leads ultimately to a peace treaty, as long as it can be thoroughly vetted for costs, would be a welcome development.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell rolled out the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on Thursday, inviting public comment on it, and there’s sure to be a lot of that.
The Natatorium closed in 1979 because of its deteriorated condition. Over the intervening four decades, the core question in the debate is this: Is the cost of restoring the memorial fully worth the cost, both for construction and for ongoing upkeep?
Critics of full restoration have said no. The Star-Advertiser has supported preservation of some element of the memorial — principally its Beaux-Arts style archway facade — but favored elimination of the pool, due to complex health regulations and high costs, in favor of replacing the pool area with a sandy beach.
But now the middle path, what’s described as the “perimeter deck” reconstruction plan, has been dubbed the proposed alternative. The deck would be supported by concrete piles.
“The shape, configuration and size of the reconstructed deck would not change, hence retaining its plan view” from above, according to the EIS. That’s a desirable outcome right there.
The city is also asserting that the perimeter deck plan is cheaper ($25.6 million) than the beach proposal ($28.8 million). And as such, salvaging more of the memorial pool configuration does seem to be more appealingly evocative.
The planners will have to explain how this is possible, though, given that even a simplified pool area will require maintenance, with concern over sea-level rise being a factor.
Of course, as hoteliers with a Kuhio Beach frontage know all too well, sandy beaches in the area don’t stay in place without a lot of expensive sand replenishment efforts as well.
There also needs to be a full discussion about the justification for the investment in a facility within the exposure zone for sea-level rise spurred by climate change. Of course, projections are always uncertain in this area, but taxpayers need some assurance that perimeter-deck construction can weather significant sea-level change.
What helps the deck plan the most is that it solves the regulatory problem affecting the pool-restoration concept. The elimination of the makai and Ewa seawalls of the pool means that the swimming area surrounded by the deck is not, strictly speaking, a “pool.”
That means it would not be subject to health regulations affecting pools; compliance there had added a high hurdle that thwarted the proposal.
In fact, according to the EIS, the deck configuration would result in improvements to water quality due to better circulation. That adds to the appeal of this plan, a “swimming hole” that provides a healthy environment for swimmers makes sense.
The biggest argument in favor of the modified pool reclamation is that it salvages an attraction that’s distinct from the conventional beach asset Waikiki offers. That is a plus, for local residents and tourists alike, in a place that has not done enough to conserve its historic landmarks.
The fact that this also honors the sacrifice of Hawaii soldiers, a century after World War I ended, represents a fitting Veterans Day tribute.
View the draft EIS at 808ne.ws/Natatoriumreview Opens in a new tab. Send comments by Dec. 24 to Mayor Kirk Caldwell, c/o Department of Design and Construction, 650 S. King St., 11th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813; or email WWMCNatatorium@aecom.com.
