The Kaimana Beach Coalition was created out of a need to protect the special ambiance of the last local beach in Honolulu. This precious place has been the target of commercial interests for decades, and only by grassroots action has the community been able to preserve the simple elegance of this wonderful gathering place and recreational area. We are the present guardians.
For the past seven years, we have been opposed to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' attempts to commercialize the Natatorium. We have fought the project on many fronts. Legitimate concerns regarding water quality in the untreated and poorly planned swimming pool led to a lawsuit. The courts agreed with Kaimana Beach Coalition and forced Mayor Harris to come up with new plans for the swimming pool that would protect public health. Guidelines for these plans were created by the State Department of Health and will require a permit from that agency. To date, Mayor Harris has not produced plans or permits that would allow him to build the swimming pool.
This $6.1 million stopgap repair project on the crumbling Natatorium is an end run to create the swimming pool without plans or permits. The project calls for the pool deck and surrounding and supporting seawalls to be replaced. The Harris Administration claims that because a portion of the pool deck fronting the bleachers has collapsed, the entire stadium will collapse and kill or injure people unless this work is performed immediately. These are scare tactics and emotional blackmail.
The ten month project involves "demolition and reconstruction of the swim basin structure consisting of a concrete pool deck, concrete perimeter sea walls and support elements, which enclose the swim basin".
The scope of the work proposed is different than what was originally permitted, and is therefore illegal.
If new walls are constructed around the swimming pool area, Honolulu taxpayers, and beach users will be wedded to this crumbling 1920's ocean swimming pool scenario for decades to come. Ironically, this project will not complete the pool and the repaired structure will remain locked and shut down. The pool could cost another $10 million or more.
We feel there are more creative, flexible and less permanent alternatives to correcting the unsubstantiated safety issues at the Natatorium.
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Above left: An aerial view of the Natatorium as it exists today. Above right: An alternative - expand the beach, and turn the Memorial facade into a beach entrance.
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Above: An artist's sketch of what the Memorial could be - a beautiful entrance to Kaimana Beach.
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