[ OUR OPINION ]
HEALTH requirements are expected to force the city to develop a new plan for restoring the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, but that hurdle should not put an end to the project. The city may need to find other sources of financing to meet the requirements. Leaving the swimming pool unusable indefinitely is not an alternative. Alter Natatorium plans
to meet health standards
THE ISSUE The state Health Department has drafted rules that will require major changes in the restoration of the Waikiki Natatorium.
The Natatorium was rededicated on Memorial Day in 2000 after the city completed restoration of its facade, grandstand and shower and changing areas. The opening of the pool has awaited clearance from the state Health Department, which had no standards for saltwater pools; all public pools have been freshwater.
Draft rules recently completed and expected to be approved by Governor Cayetano call for the sides and bottoms of saltwater pools to be lined with hard, impermeable and easy-to-clean surfaces, and a mechanical pump system to push ocean water into the pool for circulation to prevent the growth of infectious bacteria. The city's original plan envisioned the pool's bottom to remain natural sand.
Health Director Bruce Anderson agrees with James Bickerton, an attorney for opponents of the restoration, that the rules will force the city to return to the City Council for approval of a new plan. "Clearly, they're going to have to make some major design changes if they expect to conform to these proposed rules," Anderson said.
The original plan had a price tag of $10.85 million, of which $4.4 million was spent on the partial restoration that has been completed. In order to complete the restoration in compliance with the new rules, Mayor Harris will have to go back to the City Council not only for approval of the new design but for additional money. Several Council members have indicated reluctance to provide it.
If the Council rejects the needed funding, Harris should try to find other sources. The mayor said two years ago that he had talked to Hawaii's congressional delegation about obtaining federal funding and had discussed the possibility of a national fund-raising campaign with veterans organizations. Those are sensible ways to achieve full restoration.
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PRESIDENT Bush might be able to have his Scottish terrier, Barney, and his springer spaniel, Spot, at his side next time he visits Britain, but he'd better leave them home on his next trip to Hawaii. While Britain is preparing to extend its successful "pet passport" program to North America, Hawaii is considering only reducing its minimum animal quarantine to five days. British set standard
for pet quarantine
THE ISSUE Britain is preparing to lift its quarantine for pets from North America.
Hawaii's quarantine was reduced in 1997 from four months for all animals to one month for incoming pets that had been subjected to rabies shots at least 30 days before their arrival, been given blood tests and been implanted with microchips. State Veterinarian James Foppoli is preparing to ask the state Board of Agriculture to reduce the quarantine to as little as five days.
Britain required a six-month quarantine for all incoming animals until two years ago, when it exempted animals from Europe that had been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and given blood tests to ensure that the inoculations worked. More than 50,000 cats and dogs have been allowed into Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme, which now applies to animals from 52 countries and Hawaii.
The British government is preparing to include North America in the program. U.S. diplomats were joined by transatlantic travelers such as Sting, Elton John, Liz Hurley -- her Alsatian, Nico, died in quarantine -- and David Hockney in encouraging such a move. Elizabeth Taylor reportedly considered declining her royal investiture as "dame" two years ago after learning that Sugar, her white Maltese terrier, could not attend. Bill Clinton is said to have been miffed about having to leave Buddy at the White House instead of taking him to England.
"The government recognizes that extending the scheme could remove a significant barrier for people in the U.S.A. and Canada wanting to come to the U.K. with their pets on holiday, business or even permanently," says British Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley. The change, expected in the fall, is likely to include an additional requirement that each pet from North America be registered with a vet to ensure regular checks after arrival. Hawaii should consider using the British program as a model.
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