HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

319

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

strongly urging the convening of a task force to devise a strategic and implementation plan for the restoration of the waikiki war memorial natatorium.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii has no more historically significant architectural icon than the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, a memorial that honors the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price in World War I; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is what Hawaiians can "wahipana", a sacred place of legendary beauty where the spirit is uplifted; and

 

     WHEREAS, the artfully constructed interface between natural and built environment has been hailed as a work of genius, harmoniously joining land and sea in a magnificent, yet sensitive statement, making the Natatorium worth preserving based on artistic merit alone; and

 

     WHEREAS, the facade features a Beaux-Arts style ornamental arched entryway measuring over twenty feet tall, designed by famed architect Louis P. Hobart, easily being one of Hawaii's most recognizable examples of creative architectural excellence; and

 

WHEREAS, although the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium has deteriorated since its initial construction, in 2001, over four million dollars of repairs were completed on the site including a façade restoration and the renovation of the bleachers and public restrooms; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is listed on both the National and Hawaii Registers of Historic Places; and

 

     WHEREAS, allowing the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium to fall into disrepair because of inaction and procrastination would be irresponsible and would be disrespectful to all who paid the ultimate price for our nation in World War I, and would render an entire stretch of beach unsafe and incur large clean-up costs; and

 

     WHEREAS, other options, such as moving the facade and filling the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium for athletic purposes, are not feasible due to the catastrophic damage that would result from the movement and destabilization to the bleachers, restrooms, and facade due to the increased load and drag due to the fill, respectively; and

 

     WHEREAS, tourism is the main economic driver of Hawaii's economy, providing numerous jobs and incomes to our residents; and

 

WHEREAS, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has proven that cultural heritage tourists are more affluent overall, stay longer and spend more while contributing to global understanding through cultural exchange and commerce; and

 

WHEREAS, cultural and heritage visitors spend, on average, $623 per trip compared to $457 for all U.S. travelers, excluding the cost of transportation; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of this State to preserve Hawai`i's uniqueness, sense of place, and cultural identity for the benefit of all its residents as well as its visitors; and

 

WHEREAS, heritage tourism and more broadly, historic preservation and the efforts of the Heritage Caucus, not only benefit the State socially but economically as well; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that a task force is requested to be convened to devise a strategic plan and an implementation plan for the restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force include a representative from the following organizations or individuals, as appropriate: the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, the Friends of the Natatorium, the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Disabled American Veterans, the Oahu Veterans Council, the American Legion Department of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Fleet Reserve Association, the National Association for Uniformed Services, Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, USA Water Polo-National Development Committee for Hawaii, the Department of Health, the Department of Land and Natural Resources-Historic Preservation Division, the City and County of Honolulu, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka, U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie, and U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the strategic plan and the implementation plan be submitted to the Legislature no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the 2009 Regular Session; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Historic Hawaii Foundation, the Friends of the Natatorium, the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Disabled American Veterans, the Oahu Veterans Council, the American Legion Department of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Fleet Reserve Association, the National Association for Uniformed Services, Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, USA Water Polo-National Development Committee for Hawaii, the Department of Health, the Department of Land and Natural Resources-Historic Preservation Division, the City and County of Honolulu, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka, U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie, and U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium; task force; strategic and implementation plans; strongly urging