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The city has settled a lawsuit brought by a community group to halt restoration of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium. City, residents settle
Natatorium parking suitBy Leila Fujimori
Star-BulletinIn the settlement, the city has agreed to provide six parking stalls for the public at the war memorial, to post signs about parking and to remove metal fence poles until renovation work commences.
"It's unfortunate it took that long to resolve it just for six parking spaces, parking signs and the removal of some posts," said David Arakawa, city corporation counsel.
The Kaimana Beach Coalition, a group of residents who use the beach, filed the lawsuit last year because of health and safety concerns they allege the pool would pose, as well as to protect the park from commercialization of the area.
Arakawa said the city could have begun building the pool phase of the project because it has all the needed permits. But in June 1999, the mayor made a voluntary commitment to wait for the Health Department to draw up saltwater pool regulations, which the state does not currently have, before proceeding.
The city also agrees not to start the pool until it has an expert declare the pool is in compliance with Health Department rules.
The coalition was not opposed to the restoration of the war memorial archway, but did not want the bleachers built, which might draw commercial activity.
"The city's planning by bulldozer has succeeded," said the coalition's attorney, James Bickerton, who represents the group for free. He said it would be difficult to persuade a court to tear down what has already been built.
City & County of Honolulu
