KHON, November 11, 2018
by Sara Mattison

Possible future plans released for Waikiki Natatorium

HONOLULU (KHON2) – It’s been an on-going debate on what to do with the Natatorium. Just four days ago, a draft environmental impact statement was released.

It was only fitting to observe the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice in front of the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial with the new Centennial Memorial plaque proudly displayed. Some remembered the glory days of the Natatorium.

“I would always remember it as a place to come to swim on weekends,” said Josephine Keanu.

“You know Duke Kahanamoku trained here for his swimming, for the Olympic medal. So this site is rich in history,” said Ron Lam.

However, the facility’s disrepair could not be overlooked.

“This is absolutely disrespectful to our veterans, letting it crumble for 40 years,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
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The process took a long time but last week a draft Environmental Impact Statement was released. The report looked at four alternatives: a Perimeter Deck, War Memorial beach, closed pool system, or no action at all.

“You know the preferred alternative in the report is a Perimeter Deck, so that the pool is kind of preserved. It may not look exactly like it does today,” said Mayor Caldwell.

Friends of the Natatorium tell us while anything can happen, the draft EIS is an opportunity to get the ball rolling.

“We’re pretty happy and pleased that the EIS came out the way it did, looking at an idea of preservation that is doable,” said Friends of the Natatorium President Mo Radke.

The Mayor says the Perimeter Deck could cost about $26-million and will start putting money in this year’s budget.

“We heard a lot from the private sector and Trust for Historic Preservation. They are saying they can raise this money and so I’m going to ask them to step up and show us the money,” said Mayor Caldwell.

Before the final publication of the EIS, public input will be considered.

“Those that have been sending letters and sending emails in support of preservation, we are going to get them fired back up,” said Radke, “and if the City and County of Honolulu is serious about it this time, then we’re right behind them all the way.”

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Waikiki War Memorial Complex

Civil Beat, December 11, 2017
by Marcel Honore

For several years now, there have been two basic options for what to do with the Waikiki Natatorium: “pool” or “beach.”

Either restore the dilapidated World War I memorial and its saltwater pool, which has languished for decades, or move its distinct arches away from the water and revive the beach there.

On Monday, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a third way: Tear down most of the Natatorium’s existing seawall and replace it with a “perimeter deck” around the swimming area. Under that proposal, the Natatorium’s bleachers and arches would stay in place.

The Natatorium has been languishing for decades along the Waikiki shoreline. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat 

The idea, he and city officials said, stems from discussions with the State Historic Preservation Division.

“When we showed them the alternatives that we had” — essentially the pool and beach options — “they said that there needed to be an in-between,” Robert Kroning, the city’s Department of Design and Construction director, said at a news conference Monday also attended by the mayor.

“We need to try to save more of the structure than we’re doing, even if that means not creating a pool,” Kroning said, explaining the perimeter deck approach.

Those platforms would be raised above the water with supporting columns, creating an area for the public — not just monk seals — to swim directly in front of the Natatorium.

The timing of the news conference was curious: A draft environmental impact statement outlining these three options isn’t expected to be presented to the public until next summer, and the final EIS likely won’t be released until 2019.

Caldwell told the media that the point of Monday’s event was to “let the public know that we haven’t forgot and that the process continues, and that we are working hard and will continue to do so.”

Caldwell estimated that both the beach and the perimeter-deck options would cost $20 million to $30 million, although he did not specify how the city might cover that.  The swimming pool option would cost $40 million to $60 million, he said.

Designs provided by the city show how the Natatorium’s existing sea walls might eventually be replaced with perimeter decks under a new proposal. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

City officials have repeatedly said in recent months that it’s getting harder to balance the budget. In September, the City Council reluctantly signed off on a plan to cover some $160 million in rail administrative costs, and city officials have said that collective bargaining agreements and debt payments are making it harder to balance the budget.

“Every year it’s a struggle for the city,” then-Deputy Budget Director Gary Kurokawa told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in March.  “It’s never a position that we have extra money.” Kurokawa now serves as Caldwell’s chief of staff.

Despite those challenges, Caldwell on Monday suggested that the city set aside money in its budget to fix the Natatorium as that work approaches.

A key question going forward is whether all the community groups who’ve debated the Natatorium’s future will accept whichever vision eventually emerges from the EIS process.

Diamond Head resident Rick Bernstein heads the Kaimana Beach Coalition, and he’s spent years pushing to restore the beach at the Natatorium. He believes that’s the best approach for the local community.

Kaimana Beach Coalition head Rick Bernstein has spent years pushing for beach restoration at the Waikiki Natatorium. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

He’s not sure yet whether he would embrace the perimeter-deck design.

“This is a mishmash,” Bernstein said of the proposal after listening to Caldwell on Monday.  “I haven’t studied it. I don’t know. I think that keeping the bleachers is a giant mistake because it opens the door to commercialization.”

“Twenty-five hundred seats in service of what?”

Meanwhile, Mo Radke, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Natatorium, which has spent more than 30 years pushing city and state officials to restore the memorial, said he could support the perimeter decks because it  keeps the facade and keeps the bleachers.

Dueling visions over the Natatorium have led to spirited debate — and even bad blood — for about 50 years.

That was apparent Monday after the news conference, when things got testy between Bernstein and Radke. While being interviewed, Bernstein told Radke to “keep moving” as Radke passed by. The two had a heated exchange before Bernstein resumed the interview several paces away.

Mo Radke, president of Friends of the Natatorium, wants to ensure the Natatorium’s facade and bleachers remain intact. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

In May 2013, Caldwell joined then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie in front of the Natatorium to announce their joint plan to replace the dilapidated war memorial with a beach and park area.

Little appears to have changed since then. But Kroning said Monday that “we have made significant … progress.”

“Some of the reasons why it does take so long is because that process is very complicated. And on top of that, when it’s a controversial issue … you get a lot more input in your process, and so that takes time.”

Pressed for more details on what stalled the previous push with Abercrombie  more than four years ago, Caldwell replied, “if you were listening to what I said, we haven’t stopped. We haven’t stalled.”

Mayor Kirk Caldwell addresses the media in front of the Natatorium War Memorial on Monday. Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

“What has happened is there’s another alternative for people to consider,” he said.

Caldwell hopes construction on the selected plan could begin before his second term through 2020 expires. Otherwise, work on the controversial issue might stall under his successor, he said.

When Caldwell asked Kroning whether that was possible, he hesitated. “If things all line up perfectly, we can get that to happen,” Kroning eventually answered. He added that if the project got the necessary permits expedited, “there’s a chance.”

Bernstein, meanwhile, hasn’t given up on his preferred beach option.

“Hope springs eternal,” he said Monday. “I would love to see progress made. It’s such a contentious issue and there are vested interests that are entrenched.”

KHON, December 11, 2017

City outlines potential options for future of Waikiki Natatorium

What should happen to the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial?

Construction was completed in 1927 as a memorial to honor veterans of World War I.

But over the past several decades, the facility fell into disrepair. It’s been closed to the public since 1979, and is considered a public health and safety issue for beachgoers and marine life.

On Monday, city officials outlined several possibilities for the landmark’s future.

An environmental impact statement (EIS) is underway with a completed draft scheduled by summer 2018.

Its purpose is to recommend projects to renew the memorial and re-establish full public access to the area.

“We’ve been making steady progress with the EIS and the process is working,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “Through this process, and the consultations it requires, we’ve developed four alternatives to address the long neglected memorial. An additional alternative has recently been added, which looks promising. We’re labeling it Alternative 2 and it consists of a flow through perimeter deck where the original, crumbling deck is now.”

The four alternatives proposed for the site include:

Alternative 1 – Closed Pool System

• Reconstructs and restores the Natatorium in general accordance with the 1998 plans, except for the ocean-fed pool design.
• Ocean-fed pool qualifies as a public swimming pool and would be subject to health provisions.
• Estimated cost $40 million to $60 million.

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Alternative 2 – Perimeter Deck

• Retains the bleachers, arches, and reconstructs the pool deck in the same location but on new supports.
• Large lengths of the seawall below the deck level would be removed, allowing the free flow of water between the swim basin and ocean.
• Estimated cost $20 million to $30 million.
• Additional renderings below.

Alternative 3 – Beach

• Creates a war memorial beach between constructed groins with the removal of all structures built seaward of the 1927 shoreline.
• Replica memorial arch would be aligned with the existing Roll of Honor plaque with construction of a new bathhouse, replacement offices for Ocean Safety, removal of the existing roadway and construction of a new parking lot.
• Estimated cost $20 million to $30 million.

Alternative 4 – Debris Removal

• All structures would remain in place with some debris removal and limited access to the public in the event of a collapse.
• Estimated cost $2 million to $4 million.

“It needs to be done for a lot of different reasons. One, the historic value of this structure, the fact that it sits right on the ocean in the heart of Waikiki at the foot of Diamond Head,” Caldwell said. “The EIS is something that is important, because it gets the input from the community, and we address the various impacts both positive and negative on many of the alternatives that we may take.”

Following the draft, public hearings are anticipated for fall 2018 with the publication of the final EIS scheduled in spring 2019.

On December 11, 2017 Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell held a press conference to update the press and public on the state of the Natatorium’s EIS process as well as the full set of alternatives that will be considered in the EIS to date. The following is a transcription of the video as provided by Civil Beat. Transcription provided by the Kaimana Beach Coalition.

Images of the alternatives as well as a summary of their costs can be viewed in the article provided by KHON.

Kirk Caldwell: I want to thank everyone for gathering here in a really beautiful part of Waikiki on a beautiful day, the day after the marathon. You had twenty eight thousand people over here yesterday finish and finishing the marathon in front of our Natatorium. The honors, those who served and gave their last full measure devotion in World War I, a war that started in 1914 and ended in 1918, it’s going to [be a] one hundred year anniversary next year. And this memorial as you can see I believe does not show the respect that should be given to those who served and gave their last full measure [of] devotion has been neglected for decades and decades and decades. And [while I] was a managing director with Mayor Hanneman I was given the task of putting together a group of people comprised of veterans and others about what do we do with the Natatorium. And many other Mayors have been faced with the issue of what do we do with the Natatorium. We have not backed away since I’ve been Mayor; I’m proceeding with our EIS, Environmental Impact Statement, that needs to be done for a lot of different reasons.

One, the historic value of this structure, the fact that it sits right on the ocean in the heart of Waikiki at the foot of Diamond Head. An EIS is something that is important because you get the input from the community and we address the various impacts both positive and negative on any of the alternatives that we may take. But we have not stopped. There’s not been a lot of press, a lot of talk publicly, but there’s been a lot of work by different folks to move this process along and I know from time to time we see letters to the editor where people are complaining that you know, typical government nothing is happening and we just don’t want to go and have lawsuits and challenges, we want to go and make sure we’ve done the right thing. We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the Superferry and say let’s do the EIS after the ships start sailing. Let’s address these issues, let’s find out what the problems are, and let’s follow the proper course to show respect for our veterans and for those who gave their last full measure of devotion in World War I. And whatever happens here it will be developed around those who gave their last full measure of devotion.

I wanted to run through various alternatives that we have and that are looking at. As you know after the Task Force met when I was Managing Director the recommendation was to move the arches mauka a bit, remove the pool, and make it a beach. And there’s much demand for more beaches along this south shore and particularly here in Waikiki, God our beaches are eroding! You go down to Kuhio Beach, [it] looks about like [the] lost continent of Atlantis, you have a sidewalk showing up from the Waikiki Tavern. You go down to the Fort DeRussy side and right now at least, a lot of coral rocks and very little sand as you enter the water along the whole beach. But we have a beautiful beach here at Kaimana and it’s one of the few beaches I believe on this island on the south shore that our local folks go to. In a place on any given day it has about 130,000 visitors but you go here I used to come down to see Kaimana – and Rocky – and every time I came here I’d see friends who would say hi and just good old local folks who wanted to come close to where they live and feel like they’re with other local folks and we want that to be this side of the park and to make it a positive experience for everyone involved. So we’re looking at various alternatives – remember, initially we’re looking at a beach alternative only, but we are required by the process to look at all kinds of alternatives.

So it’s – Robert each one, is this alternative one? Do we have one for each of the alternatives? OK. So alternative one is a closed pool system. In other words it’s kind of what Mayor Harris was talking about when he was Mayor. Remember, he wanted to move forward with a closed pool. Kind of like swimming in where I live in Manoa at the district park, in their pool. [It’d] be saltwater, but totally enclosed. And the Department of Health came up with all kinds of rules that have to be followed to make sure it’s safe for the public. And it would revolve in regard a reconstruction and renovation of the entire project. It’s not like you just patch a couple pukas. Remember how Rocky had swum in and out with Kaimana and get stuck in there. There’s big pukas! Yes, there were water safety folks, one very large one, one smaller one, a couple sharks [swimming] inside there, honu were in there, swimming in and out. But it’d be rebuilding the whole thing and make it a swimming pool. And the cost was between forty million and sixty million dollars. Very expensive. And the process did not move forward at that point. The alternative two is a perimeter deck proposal, which is something new that came up in the past – what, six months? About that. And we’re going to look at all these different alternatives. And the perimeter pool idea is, the makai and eva side, walls would come down. This wall would come down too, but it would be rebuilt, [because] if you take it down all this sand on Kaimana Beach, it’s gonna go away. But these walls would come down permanently, you wouldn’t have a wall there anymore. But you would have pillars – am I using the right? – pillars that would be supporting a structure on top that you could walk on, but that water would move in and out, so you basically have seawater inside the pool so it’s kind of like an open swimming pool where you could walk, and you can see here it kind of shows the width of the deck.

There’s still discussions about the height, you know, where they would be rebuilding not just for today but with climate change and sea level rise that would be built such that could accommodate increasing sea level. But it could even be a platform that would move up and down, adjust it. Because we don’t want to make it so high that, like it is right now, it’s about four feet from the surface to the surface of the water, from the surface of the deck to the water, and it’s estimated that that proposal runs between twenty and thirty million dollars. OK? The third proposal, the beach proposal – which is one I lean towards – would remove everything makai of the 1927 shoreline, so we’d be restoring it back to where what it looked like in 1927. We’d build a new bath house, [because] in this case the structure would be moved mauka. We’d lose the bath house, we’d lose our facility for our water safety folks, and we’d have to build a new office for them, and by the way we don’t know where that place would be. It could be just eva of here which [has] met some pushback, but I’ll tell you one thing. We are gonna make sure our water safety folks have the best possible facility for them to work out of and to train out of and to protect lives. If that means building it somewhere in Kapiolani Park on the makai side and that is decided to be the best location, I’m gonna support it because no one person gets to decide who gets to live or die because our water safety folks aren’t where they’re supposed to be. So we’re looking maybe eva of here, we’re looking at Magic Island – as you know we rebuilt by rebuilding Ala Moana Beach Park and you’ve seen the results of the irrigation system in, the volleyball courts the walking path has been repaved, trees have been planted, and on the planning is maybe perhaps a water safety facility down there. Of course the last place is down at Kewalo basin. There’s been discussions there with Howard Hughes folks and with the state about maybe having a facility there, we have a boat that we launch out of there and that would also be an access point, but no decision has been made. This proposal also is between twenty and thirty million dollars. So close to the alternative where we’re looking at a floating platform on the makai, ewa side of the pool. New bathhouse would be here, we’d have new parking over there, it’d be parking – and I hope I’m correct because I want to be correct – is that it would be impervious. It would have grass it could have those Syncrete blocks, so it’d be green. We want to make sure this remains open and green. And of course, our pohaku with the names of those who gave their last full measure of devotion would remain, and that is a memorial that we’d like to go and have programs at.

The fourth action, and the one a lot of people love just generally in our community, is no action. That’s safe, right? As Mayor, by the way, that’d be the safest for me to take as a politician. Because then go ahead of any other decision people are happy or people are upset. But I think that’s the absolute worst decision. It’s what’s happened for four decades and there’s where the disrespect is showing. To those who died. And their families and relatives to this day. That is the action we will not take but it is one we need to look at. Do we have the no action one? We need it – well, we got it right there. Right there, we got the no action right there. Someday we’re going to have a low-grade earthquake or a huge south swell and things are going to fall down even more. No action is between two and four million. So even no action has cost. And why is that? [We’ve] got to remove all the debris that’s in there, the kind of debris that Rocky and Kaimana had to worry about, and we worried about. We have to post signs, more signs to keep the public out because it’s not safe and things are collapsing. So here’s the schedule.

In the summer of 2018 – it’s way so long, I tell you that’s the most frustrating thing for me as Mayor. This process just takes forever. It’s been five years, now we’re going to go into my sixth year as Mayor, and in the summer of 2018 the draft EIS will be completed. And then [in] the fall of 2018, that’s when you have the public hearings, getting people’s input about the various four alternatives, hear what they have to say, we’re open. We want to make sure we get this right, although whatever decision is made at the end of the day not everyone’s going to be happy with. But I think – those kind of decisions are the ones worth making. And in the spring of 2019 there’ll be the publication of the final EIS which – and in which case – we’d then proceed. And I’m hoping that as we get closer we’ll start putting money in the budget to proceed. So that before I leave as Mayor we’re actually taking action so that this thing becomes – this Natatorium, this memorial – is something that shows respect for our veterans and for those who died. Anyway we can proceed and get the funding is getting the support and cooperation of the Honolulu City Council. We have Trevor Ozawa here who is a council member for this area. For Waikiki going all the way out to Hawaii Kai. So Trevor would you like to come up and say a few words? I didn’t ask you, if you don’t want to, that’s fine but – thank you.

Trevor Ozawa: Thank you, yeah. This part of my district is so special as the Mayor outlined, but we got to do something to take care of it. And doing nothing is not doing something. And so [it’d] be a waste of our resources to continue to put in money for a dilapidating structure that – that is dishonouring our veterans as well. So whatever we do in the process, it’s going to be a public process, it’s gonna be a fair process, and I look forward to hearing what the public’s opinion is and what the administration also comes up with in their findings. But like the Mayor said, this is going to be a group effort and not everybody is going to be entirely happy. But hopefully we can come to a compromise where somebody – where both sides and all sides can actually come here one day and have a level of respect for the place that doesn’t currently exist. So I appreciate it.

KC: Thank you, Trevor. We’re gonna ask Robert Kroning, the Director of Design and Construction, to come up and say a few words. Before he does – again, you may wonder why [are] we having this today when we’re not going to be publishing the final EIS ’til 2019. And there’s two reasons. One is to let the public know that we haven’t forgotten and that the process continues and that we are working hard and will continue to do so. The other one is, I want to emphasize, is that alternative number two, which is the perimeter deck alternative that was not on the on the table until about six months ago. It’s now on the table, and it’s because we were hearing from folks about other alternative[s]. If it’s not a full reconstruction of a pool, like having a swimming pool in the water, that perhaps there is a middle ground. And of course the beach alternative, the no action alternative. So Robert if you could come up and say –

Audience member 1: Can we ask a few questions?

KC: Well we will, at the end – we will open it up at – unless you gotta run – is it OK if you wait? I know it’s hot. And Robert, why is it taking so long and can you make it go faster, please, OK? Thanks.

Robert Kroning: So what am I – what am I supposed to say to that? Robert Kroning, I’m director of the Department of the Design and Construction. There’s really not much more for me to add – the Mayor is pretty much covered at all. I’ll talk – yes, frankly we are all frustrated with – with how long this is taking, in fact – long before the Mayor even started, it started way back in the early 90’s I’d say is probably a good place to start, where we – we were working on environmental impact statements and got so far and had to stop because of lawsuits and and stuff like that. And so it’s been stop and start, stop and start, which is one of the main reasons it’s taken so long. But since we’ve started this last go-around when – when as the Mayor mentioned we started several years ago we have made significant process – progress, I’m sorry, we’ve made significant progress and – and some of the reasons why it does take so long is because that process is very complicated and – and on top of that when it’s a controversial issue when you have so many different opinions on – on what should happen to this place you get a lot more input in your process and so that takes time too. You have to answer every one of those those comments and – and take them into consideration and – and use the ones that are valid and feasible but answer the ones that that might not be valid and feasible. But where we are today, I think is a great place. We – we’ve done quite a bit of consultation, a lot of it recently with the State Historic Preservation division which has a huge say in what happens here because this is a historic site and so that’s one of the reasons why it’s taken us so long to develop alternative two to where it is today.

Based on consultations with them we think we now have three viable – viable alternatives, of course there’s four listed we don’t think no action is really feasible, but it – it could end up being that way. So we have very good alternatives that we’re moving forward with and – and on top of that when you have these alternatives in an area like this there’s a lot of study that has to go into it and a lot more consultation. We’ve met with, you know when you talk about environmental it’s more than just the flora and the fauna that are impacted, you’re talking about the economics, you’re talking about the history, you’re talking about the culture, you’re talking about the local community, and so we continue to meet with all those different groups, different associations and different groups, and veterans, because this is a war memorial. So – so all of that goes on. On top of that you have the studies, right? You’re in the ocean so the effect on marine life has to be studied. The effect on the economy has to be studied. The effect on the cultural impact of doing any changes has to be studied. A lot of that has been done and we’re very well along in that process, but we’re not complete yet. We’ve got we’ve got to do that for all the alternatives and so that’s where we are. But it’s – it’s making progress and so as the Mayor mentioned we’ve got the schedule that early summer we should be going out with the draft EIS and that will again bring a lot more questions and an input towards this process that will have to go through. So I think that’s basically it for me.

KC: Thank you – thanks Robert, appreciate it. So before we what we want to do right – and this is where Robert has emphasized to me – we got to look at every possible alternative because if we don’t once shipped he’s not going to probably allow us to proceed with our permits and two, we’re gonna get sued, like Superferry. And just as we begin to take action we’ll be stopped and maybe the project will die at that point. We don’t want to do that. We want to make sure that we’ve addressed every possible alternative, followed the process, left no stone unturned. And when action is decided that we actually implement and see the results of that. So if that will open up to any and all questions you may have and of course we do have Jim Howe here of water – I know you’re so anxious that you must have a tough question to ask! I’m getting worried! [laughs] I’m gonna let all the Hawaii News Now, KITV, Channel Two ask questions that’s it. [laughter] Yeah. And so – but we do have Jim Howe here also and you have Jeannie here from Parks and Rec so you know, we want to get on with the questions but they’re here and you can talk to them individually afterwards, OK? Thank you.

Audience member 1: What are the operational and maintenance costs for the alternative?

KC: I don’t think that I – Robert, you want to address, you want to address it? So I think the EIS is going to look at those kind of things, Gordon, but I don’t think at this point we have gotten into, you know down to the dollar what the operational costs are going to be for – for the project and for maintaining the project. Obviously a beach would probably be the least costly to operate and maintain. If they do it right we shouldn’t have a lot of erosion of that beach. There’d have to be some beach cleaning, of course. An enclosed pool, a lot of operation and maintenance challenges there just with treating the water and making sure everything is clean. A floating one would probably be less, but of course they’re also, you know the interaction with the sea as you see it any dock around this state or anywhere in the world – you know you don’t have to get upset and throw your pen down! But nah. You don’t have – it, it would probably be more costly but [to Robert] you want to jump in and out of it a bit more?

RK: You answered it correctly.

KC: OK.

Audience member 1: But that’s, that clearly gonna be one of the things that’s – be factored into the eventual decision, is operations and maintenance?

KC: Right, that’s part of the EIS process.

Audience member 2: Will commercial activities, or sponsorship be allowed so it can offset some of the costs?

KC: You know there’s a lot of discussion about triple P, you know, for rail absolutely, but there’s others. The few times I’ve mentioned it in – in parks you know, there’s a lot of pushback. Their fear that there’s some that are going to be commercialized, although you know, L&L Drive-Inn at Ala Moana Beach Park, I think we all love it, the chicken katsu’s great, I get it all the time. So – we’d look at it, we have nothing planned right at this point through the, through the process, but we’ll be looking at those kinds of things. We’d love to do a public-private partnership for the building, the rebuilding, or the construction of it. That is something definitely we’d be interested in. You know I think the the best example of a triple P that’s ongoing right now is Duane Kurisu’s project to house homeless out by Keehi Lagoon. And we’re gonna be opening, you know having something in January on that. But that kind of thing where the private guys come in, they got the expertise for construction, of course the public has – has the money to do some of these things, but yeah, we’d look at it.

Audience member 3: Mayor, you had a press conference not unlike this one back in 2013 with then-governor Abercrombie. [It] looks like you were you were looking to push what, it’s alternative three here and of course that was four years ago. What’s – what’s happened to to stall that effort in the subsequent years, and you know, why should the public be confident that going forward [that there’s] actually going to be progress this time around?

KC: Well if you were listening to what I said, we haven’t stopped. We haven’t stalled. We’ve – none of that has happened. We’ve actually been moving forward addressing the various alternatives. What has happened is there’s another alternative that people need to consider. I don’t know if you were here back when, with Governor Abercrombie but what was definitely different than this one is the Governor was going to not move forward. He wanted to revoke our executive order that the county has this land under and stop what we wanted to do. The big difference between when we got together was, well then – was to announce we are going to be working together to move forward and we have been moving forward. As I said to everyone who is listening this morning, I said that we have been working ever since on these various alternatives and we’re moving forward. I’m going to be doing a draft EIS, public input, final EIS, and then action. So we’re moving as fast as we can under this process and in probably one of the most complicated places you can find anywhere in the state of Hawaii. Waikiki, on the water, historic veterans’ memorial. Put all that together, you got a lot of issues and we’ve got to get this right. But we have not stalled, we’ve been marching forward at a slow but steady pace. I would like to start before I leave! [To Robert] Can we, Robert? [To audience] Yes, he said yes! [laughter] [To Robert] You want to add – no come on, you can disagree with me!

RK: Of course, we would love for that to happen and if – if things are all lined up perfectly, we can get that to happen. One of the – we call it the long pole and a tent still, once we get through the EIS is then the – the permitting process that has to go to get this thing done, right it’s on – it’s in the ocean so there’s lots of permits that have to get done, water quality type permits. If we can get those expedited, there’s certainly a chance that this can happen before – before you’re done being Mayor, but history has shown that usually those don’t go so fast and, and that’s also taking into consideration where if no one protests, if there’s no legal challenges or anything like that, so – so there’s still a lot of potential obstacles out there. If the stars align correctly and none of that happens, we can – we can get it done within the next – we can get it started within the next two years.

KC: And the reason why I said [I’d] like to start it before I leave is it’s a controversial thing. Every Mayor who’s touched this gets caught in controversy and this administration has not been afraid to touch controversy on many levels. So I’m willing to take that controversy and try to get basically start – start construction so the next Mayor doesn’t have to make that decision because my – my concern is that perhaps that decision will not be made and they’ll take another look, it’ll be eight years later, and it’ll still be sitting here. And that would be a tragedy. And that’s my anxiousness of trying to get started. Yeah, so we’ve got KITV and then we’ll go to you Gordon, thanks.

Audience member 4: If the public wants to give their input on what they think should be done, how can they go about doing that?
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KC: [To Clifford Lau] Can you tell how the public can – yeah. And introduce yourself and your name and title.

Clifford Lau: OK. Thank you, gentlemen. My name is Clifford Lau, I’m with the Department of Design and Construction, I work under Robert Kroning. My division actually is overseeing this project and the – I guess the – can you rephrase that question?

Audience member 4: [If the] public has an opinion and they want to get it out there, how can they go about, you know –

CL: OK. OK. When we complete the draft EIS that’s actually going to really start a lot of the public inputting process. Up to this point we’ve been consulting with all the major interested parties through the 6E process with the state because of historical structure. We’ve actually done a lot of – had meetings with the groups. The publishing of the EIS preparation notice generated probably about 2,000 comments that came in and that kind of led to further discussion about other alternatives. So already we are getting input, but the real public input, the open input, will come through the draft EIS and the EIS process, they’ll be moving forward.

Audience member 5: So there’s been a non-profit group that’s offered to at least try to get some outside dollars to help with a certain alternative. Is that going to factor into this decision as well?

KC: Well, I think – we’re going to follow the EIS process and to the extent that’s part of the process, I say yes, it could have an impact. You know the proof is in the pudding? You know, show us the money? I remember when Governor Lingle was Governor she [said] they’re gonna take Turtle Bay, Kui’lima, whatever it’s called – and turn it into some kind of national park and it’s going to get support and lots of money from all over the world? Well, that didn’t show. So part of it is, you know, there’s – there’s commitments about money and then there’s “show us the money”. But, I would think we’d look at every, every possible suggestion that is provided.

Audience member 5: Ultimately the decision will be made by your administration?

KC: Well I think one, we’ll follow the EIS process, and I’ll probably follow the recommendation that looks like it’s the one that makes the most sense from what the community wants and of course, costs.

Audience member 6: How did this second alternative, the new alternative, how did it come about?

KC: OK, I’m gonna start to answer it and then Robert [maybe you] can jump but – you know part of it – there were – there was the beach and then there was the pool. And both are very different. And I think – and people realized the beach was much less expensive than the pool that was very expensive. I think they started talking about, you know, is there some alternative? Part of that group, Gordon you talked about, came up with the design about water flowing in and out and all of that. I think that was after they had already started hearing about this medium, this kind of in-between alternative. So Robert, you want to add to that?

RK: We keep talking about the process a lot, and unfortunately that makes it sound like it takes a long time, and it does. But part of the process was meeting with the State Historic Preservation division, right? That’s what Clifford just mentioned as the 6E process, that’s the historic. So we’ve met with the Department of Health and their Division of State – state historic preservation and, and when we showed them the alternatives that we had, basically the restore the pool to a pool or the beach option, they said that there needed to be an in-between, we need to try to save more of the structure than, than we’re doing even if that means not creating a pool. And so – that was a little bit in contradiction from earlier with the rules, right? We – the Mayor mentioned the pool rules. And so our, our hands were somewhat tied having to create a pool that met all those rules and the only way to do that was to basically enclose the whole area and and put mechanical devices in to to keep it clean. But, but after discussions with DOH (Department of Health) and SHPD (State Historic Preservation Division) we’ve been able to come up with this alternative and so the SHPD has basically said, you – you need to have this as an alternative. And I think after, you know, going over designs and having the concepts laid out and presenting them to DOH recently it looks like it is a feasible alternative that we should go forward with.

KC: We’ll take questions from the press yes, OK? Everyone, you can – otherwise we’ll be here all day asking questions.

Audience member 6: Yeah, but I’m smart.

KC: [Laughs] You heard what he said, press? OK, is it OK though, really? If we can – thanks.

Audience member 7: Just to be clear, we’re clear on your position, you did say your inclination is to go with alternative three?

KC: My inclination has leaned in that direction all along. I’m willing to look at the the alternative middle ground of a floating deck because it costs about the same. Now personally, I mean for me – born and raised here, I’d much rather swim in the ocean any day. But to go the ocean and swim in a pool just seems incongruous for me. [I’d] much rather swim out there, swim laps up to the sock and back, than to swim in a pool back and forth, but – there’s others who do. So, you know, we’ll look at both of them.

Audience member 8: Point of clarification, Robert. Is SHPD saying that it needs more of the pool to be preserved, are they requiring that, or is that just an alternative to say, just throw it in there?

RK: Well, the – the tricky thing with this is they’re saying to add it as an alternative, and they have the power of affecting the permits later. So if we decide to say, thank you for your input but we’re going to ignore it, they can just hold up the permitting as I mentioned before and even though it it may get through the EIS process, they could affect it later in terms of it never being constructed.

Audience member 8: Is that a firm requirement from them? I’m, I’m just not clear. Or do they just want you to study.

RK: It – well, it doesn’t – I guess it’s not firm, right? They can’t make us put it in there? But it, it makes sense for us to to do it, so we will.

KC: In terms of it for me and Robert, you can jump in – the big hurdles is one, SHPD, because they’re gonna have to approve whatever we do, that is a huge challenge. Department of Health, in terms of just making sure the water quality is proper, and then Army Corps of Engineers permits, you know, we’re in the water. All of those things can hold up projects for years and years and years. And if you don’t get ’em you can’t do anything. And again folks, this is the whole reason, is we’re trying to do something. We don’t to make a great beautiful thing and then SHPD doesn’t give us a permit or we end up in a lawsuit because he didn’t follow the right process and we’re right back to where we started when I became managing director in 2009. We don’t want that.

Audience member 9: Under option two, do, do the bleachers stay up?

KC: They do.

Audience member 9: And is there, there’s still gonna be like a hard bottom out by where the deck area is, where people would jump?

KC: I don’t [there’s a] hard bottom on the bottom, but of course the deck would be hard, where you walk. [to Robert] If I’m wrong correct me – but I think the bottom is going to be natural, natural whatever it is. [to Robert] Am I correct?

RK: Yes, that’s correct.

KC: Yep. Any other questions? Otherwise we’ll ask these folks if you could stay for a couple minutes in case you have questions, go stand under one of the milo trees or something or –

Audience member 10: I have a question.

KC: Well, we’re going to take them individually. Any more questions from the press, media? OK, I want to thank everyone and appreciate your covering this ongoing story, there’ll be more more to report later. Thank you.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 28, 2017 (Updated July 29, 2017 5:25pm)
By Leila Fukimori

Monk seal pup reunited with mom after getting trapped in the Natatorium

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / JULY 3 A Hawaiian monk seal known as “Rocky” and her pup, Kaimana, were briefly separated on Friday when her pup took a dip at the Waikiki Natatorium.

Kaimana, the 4-week-old monk seal pup born at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki, wandered away for the first time from her Kauai-born mom, “Rocky,” Friday night.

The two were separated for about 40 to 50 minutes when Kaimana took a dip at the Waikiki Natatorium, while Rocky kept calling out for her baby girl.

All the while, mom had been “pacing up and down and vocalizing,” said David Schofield, Marine Mammal Health and Response Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.

“Pup is getting stronger and more adventurous and swimming farther away and got herself in a precarious situation,” said Aliza Milette-Winfree, NOAA Oahu Marine Mammal Response coordinator.

Volunteers from the Hawaii Marine Animal Response Team, who have been keeping a watchful eye over mom, designated by NOAA as RH58, and pup, PO3. But they lost sight of Kaimana for about 30 minutes, and immediately called Milette-Winfree and her team. They quickly arrived and gained access to the Natatorium and had to be guided through the dilapidated area.

They discovered the pup swimming in a shallow inner canal at the Natatorium, and not the main pool.

After observing Kaimana and assessing the situation, Milette-Winfree ran out and got a beach blanket from someone on the beach for use as a stretcher.
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In minutes, team members, some in the water, rolled her onto the blanket, carried the roughly 100- to 200-pound, 4-foot chubby pup out and got her back to mom on nearby Kaimana Beach.

They were reunited at about 8:40 p.m.

Schofield said they expect mother and daughter to remain at the beach for another two weeks.

After the pup, dubbed “Kaimana” by the community, is weaned, she will be tagged with two official NOAA tags, one on each flipper, and an official designation, but for now is simply PO3.

Milette-Winfree warns the public that the mother seal may get protective and recommends that people swim at another beach.

“Mom is going to be incredibly vigilant and looking out for her wily, little daughter, so she’s going to be incredibly protective right now as the pup gets stronger and stronger and moves farther away from her,” she said.

“Moms can move like a rocket in order to try and protect their pups,” she said.

“It’s been a stressful time for us because of concern about mom’s protective behavior,” while trying to keep the public safe.

Schofield says that after the mom leaves, the danger of aggression will be over, but the next concern will be for the pup’s safety.

The state and NOAA officials continue to urge people to use other beaches.

KITV, June 22, 2016
By Catherine Cruz

City considers new alternatives for crumbling Waikiki Natatorium

HONOLULU – The Waikiki War Memorial was recently designated as a national treasure even though it has been closed for almost 50 years. Its last major face-lift was 16 years ago.

Next week, the natatorium becomes the focus of a week-long series of meetings in an effort to decide what to do with it.

“We have preservation groups and park and beach groups, veteran groups and Native Hawaiian groups that we will be sharing what we have gotten so far on the alternatives,” said Robert Kroning, director of the city’s Department of Design and Construction.

The city has been considering two alternatives: full restoration or demolition, which involves creating a new beach and rebuilding the historic arch inland.

But the city said two other alternatives will be considered next week.

The State Historic Preservation office recommended looking other options, including doing away with the pool but keeping the bleachers.
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“One of alternatives has preserving the bleachers with a beach. That option requires groins to stick out further. Another keeps the bleachers with no beach, only the ocean,” said Kroning.

Next week’s meetings will involve natatorium stakeholders, but will later include the general public.

Kroning said keeping the salt water pool may prove to be a very expensive proposition because of new health department requirements.

So should it be restored no matter what the costs?

“If they can spend all that money to shorten rail, why not spend it on this?” said veteran Randy Howard.

“People see it and think it’s this old thing that’s falling apart, so just tear it down. But I think it would be interesting if they restored and provided information about it,” said Honolulu resident Caleb Woodfin.

“I think it would depend on how much it would cost, but I think it would be interesting if they had a museum or something,” added Emily Grumling who came down to the memorial for the first time.

No matter what gets decided, something’s got to happen soon. As every day passes, more cracks appear on the walls.

The city has been monitoring reports about the facility. There are cracks that have developed in the women’s showers as well as in other areas.

It’s not clear if they are cosmetic or structural, but the city said it may take action if health and safety become an issue.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser, June 16, 2015
By Gordon Y.K. Pang

KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Studying an option somewhere between full restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium and preserving only its arches would delay action on the project by more than a year.

KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Built in 1927 to honor those killed in World War I, the Wai­kiki War Memorial Natatorium was a popular pool for many years but fell into disrepair and was closed for safety reasons in 1979.

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Historic Preservation officials want a third “alternative” considered before the razing

The city’s plan to tear down the Wai­kiki War Memorial Natatorium is being pushed back more than a year.

Robert Kroning, the city’s director of design and construction, said officials with the State Historic Preservation Division have asked that the city look into inserting into its draft environmental assessment a third possible “alternative” for the future of the long-contested plan.

Studying such an alternative — something in between full restoration and saving only the arches — would take about 16-18 months, pushing back completion of a draft environmental assessment that the city had hoped would have been completed by April, Kroning told the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser on Friday. “An 18-month delay would probably put us toward the end of 2016,” he said.

A final EIS would probably be completed about six months after that, he said.

Kroning emphasized, however, that the Caldwell administration is not wavering from its previously stated preferred position that calls for most of the nearly century-old structure to be torn down and the area turned into a beach. The Beaux Arts-style arches would be saved and moved back from the shoreline under the plan, which is estimate to cost about $18.4 million.

The draft assessment lists, as the only alternative to demolition, full restoration of the pool, bleachers and arches, as has been sought by preservationists.

SHPD officials, however, recently told the city that they “feel pretty strongly that we should be including at least one more alternative that takes into consideration … saving a little bit more of the memorial than what we have in our preferred alternative,” Kroning said.

Debate over what to do about the dilapidated facility has dragged on for nearly four decades. Built in 1927 as a memorial for those who died in World War I, it was a popular pool for many years. But after years of neglect and disrepair, it was shut down for safety reasons in 1979.

The decision to tear down the Natatorium was reached by the city following the recommendation made in 2009 by a task force comprised of various stakeholders.

In May 2013, Caldwell and then-Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced that the city and state would work cooperatively to raze the pool and bleachers, and leave the area as open space.

“The city is moving forward with the preferred alternative,” Kro­ning said.

In a statement, the state Architecture Branch did not say outright that it asked for a third alternative. However, the branch said, “We did attend a site visit on May 29, 2015, to assess the condition of the Natatorium and discuss options that may be identified within the EA including restoration, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment of the site.”

Representatives for both the Friends of the Natatorium, which supports full restoration, and the Kai­mana Beach Coalition, which wants a beach there, voiced cautious optimism that the latest developments are positive steps in their respective directions.

Mo Radke, president of the Friends, said the delay “gives me hope that the City and County of Hono­lulu (is) looking at all the alternatives that they should be looking at and not just narrowing it down to just a couple of options.”

He added, ”If they’re looking to do the right thing historically, socially, civically, financially, well, then looking at all the different options is the smart thing to do.”

Rick Bernstein, Kai­mana Beach Coalition leader, said he’s being philosophical about the delay. He said he’s been told that including the third alternative is only a precautionary move that would put the city in a better legal position should a tear-down be challenged.

Bernstein said he expects the city will continue on a course toward tearing down the pool and bleachers. To restore it, he said, would require bringing in commercial entities to support such a costly endeavor.

MidWeek: Politics: Just Thoughts, September 24, 2014
By Bob Jones

Hawaii’s first World War I casualty is honored at Oahu Cemetery. BOB JONES PHOTO

I just don’t understand the reasoning by those who say we cannot demolish Waikiki Natatorium because it was erected as a memorial to World War I soldiers from here.

I mean, we’re not suggesting tearing down the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or unearthing the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

This is … well, let’s approach it honestly:

It’s a rather unattractive cement arch. Nobody’s buried there. Nobody even knows to whom, individually, it’s dedicated.

There’s a stone and plaque mauka of it that hardly any visitors bother reading. It’s a weathered cement arch and nothing more.

If Frank Fasi were still mayor, you’d probably wake up one morning and find the natatorium no longer there, and in its place a wonderful beach and family picnic area.

Of course, my critics will say, “That was the problem with Frank Fasi. He didn’t follow the democratic process. He just did things.”
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I had my problems with Fasi “just doing things,” and I can’t recommend that method of governance. We used to call it fascism.

But, in this case, we’ve had studies; we’ve taken the issue out to communities. I’d say it’s past time for the governor and the mayor to quit playing Mr. Nice Guy, make a decision and go with it.

The sensible decision is to demolish the pool. That’s for sure.

The other decision should be to gauge just how strong public opinion is against either taking down or moving that so-called “historic arch.” I sense that there’s about a 5 percent gang that says no. Most people who don’t live near it would vote “who cares?” It does not affect their lives one way or the other.

But, realistically, look at that facade. I cannot fathom why any organization favoring historic sites considers that one of them. It is grotesque architecture not even admired for the time in which it was built. It looks like something done with leftover cement from some nearby high-rise project. Check out those “bottles” on top made to look like ancient Greek amphoras. Cheesy.

A compromise would be to commission some appropriate — and small — sculpture adjacent to the memorial stone and plaque honoring our few WWI dead.

We did not suffer heavily in that war. It was far away and involved very few soldiers from Hawaii. It did not interrupt our social or economic life for a single day. It’s not intertwined with our history.

So let’s quit mythologizing Waikiki Natatorium and get on with restoring that area as a much-needed beach access area for today’s families.

I’m thinking that even Pvt. John Rupert Rowe, the first from Hawaii killed in combat in WWI, might agree with that because we already honor him at Oahu Cemetery, not at the natatorium.

banyantreehouse@gmail.com

Pacific Business News
July 23, 2014
Duane Shimogawa

The City and County of Honolulu submitted an environmental report to the state for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial redevelopment project. | PBN File

The project to redevelop the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, which includes creating a new beach fronted by a replica World War I memorial arch that could cost more than $18 million, is gaining some traction.

The City and County of Honolulu recently submitted a 141-page final environmental assessment and environmental impact statement preparation notice done by Aiea-based WCP Inc., to the state.
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This notice, which triggers a 30-day public comment period, is to let the public know that a full environmental impact statement will be done because of the anticipated impacts it could have on the environment, as well as gather input on the project. A final EIS on the project is expected to be completed in summer 2016.

Last year, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced a plan to spend $18.4 million to demolish the pool, which has been closed for years, move the historic arch identifying it as a war memorial, and create a new public beach on the site.
Officials at the time said it would cost $69.4 million to restore the pool decks, which are crumbling into the ocean. An updated cost of the project is expected to be disclosed in the EIS.

The plan, which includes aligning the replica arch with the existing Roll of Honor plaque and hau tree arbor, also involves building a new bathhouse, the removal of an internal roadway and construction of a consolidated parking lot.

The purpose of the project is to improve the Waikiki War Memorial Complex area of Kapiolani Regional Park by renewing the memorial to World War I veterans and to fully reopen that portion of the park to the public, as well as to bring new life to the deteriorating structure.

The Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial was recently named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which supports the search for alternatives to the city and state plan to redevelop the 6.7-acre site bounded by the Waikiki Aquarium, Kalakaua Avenue, the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel and the ocean.

MidWeek: Lifestyle/Island Matters, June 4, 2014
By Mufi Hannemann

Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial as it looks today. It has just been named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on the heels of demolition vs. preservation plans here | Photo courtesy Sandra Sagisi

A crumbling structure with faded memories is the focus of a newly designated national treasure in Hawaii, which continues to serve as a setting to remember those who lost their lives in the armed forces during the first World War. Last week, on Memorial Day, dignitaries, residents and visitors alike had a chance to hear moving tributes at the Natatorium War Memorial in Waikiki.

Now a ruin and one of the last standing architectural landmarks of old Hawaii, the island icon has received a great deal of attention both nationally and locally this month. It has just been named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which comes on the heels of demolition and preservation plans — pending further review.

“To be demolished or not to be” has long been a subject of controversy over the decades. I applaud the City and County of Honolulu and the state of Hawaii, which are following through on plans that stemmed from a task force I commissioned as Honolulu mayor back in May 2009. I accepted the findings back then made by a 16-member task force to demolish the historic site and build two groins in order to create a beach, and restore/rebuild the arches inland. In its place would be a public memorial and a stadium, ensuring that we always pay proper tribute to our World War I heroes, and also providing our water enthusiasts with an expanded Waikiki beach area.

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I would like to personally acknowledge again Collin Lam (my former deputy director at the city’s Department of Design and Construction) who chaired the Waikiki Natatorium Task Force, and all the community members who laid the groundwork with the help of city and state officials and consultants for the plan that is being lauded today. Other members are Lt. Gen H. C. Stackpole (veteran), Rick Bernstein (Kaimana Beach Coalition), Jean Pierre Cercillieux (Kaimana Beach Hotel), Dr. Chip Fletcher (UH professor of ocean engineering), Edgar Hamasu (veteran), state Rep. Ken Ito (veteran), Dr. Andrew Rossiter (Waikiki Aquarium), Rick Egged (Waikiki Improvement Association), Donna Ching (Friends of the Natatorium), Kiersten Faulkner (Hawaii Historic Foundation), Fred Ballard (veteran), Art Caleda (veteran), Brian Keaulana (waterman), Hannie Anderson (paddler) and Tim Guard (businessman and military affairs advocate).

Their recommendation was no easy task. The other options thoroughly studied were: 1) Keep the natatorium as is; 2) Relocate the arches to a different site on Oahu; 3) Conduct a full restoration; or 4) Turn it into a beach volleyball and aquarium site. The final vote was nine to three — seven members were in favor of the creation of a new beach, three raised their hand for full restoration and two voted for the demolition and construction of a world-class aquarium.

* Since we are on the subject of national treasures, William W. “Bill” Paty Jr., a veteran of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, is himself a living treasure. He was an Army captain and member of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II, who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with thousands of other soldiers. He was captured as a POW, had two failed attempts at fleeing the enemy and was later decorated with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery and survival.

Paty, a former agricultural executive and chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources in the Waihee administration, will be the guest of honor Friday at the Home of the Brave Brewseum. It is the newest edition to Glen Tomlinson’s World War II museum located at 909 Waimanu St. in Kakaako. Tomlinson features one of the largest collections of WWII memorabilia that you will ever see in the Pacific. How fitting it is that Paty, who rarely speaks of his combat experience, will be recognized there for his valiant military service on the 70th anniversary of D-Day this Friday.

On behalf of his countless admirers, I send a special salute to a very deserving patriot of our times.

mufi@mufihannemann.com