Kobayashi wants
Natatorium pool out

The councilwoman's idea
does not sit well with
the memorial's defenders

City Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi says the city should refurbish the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium but eliminate the controversial saltwater pool.

In its place, she favors creating a beach.

"I believe the Council and the administration have said that restoring the memorial is a priority, but restoring the pool may not work," Kobayashi said.

During an informational briefing on the city budget yesterday, Kobayashi expressed an idea that has been mentioned many times before. "Restore the memorial (to the veterans), create a beach by removing just one of the seawalls and then once again fixing the restrooms," she said. "We want to bring closure."

Defenders of the memorial to World War I veterans said they will fight any attempt to dismantle the pool.

"I hate it. We think it's disrespectful," said Peter Apo, spokesman for Friends of the Natatorium. "We will do everything that we can to keep a Hawaii sense of place by keeping the Natatorium intact."

Kobayashi suggested canceling a $6.1 million contract for restoration of the memorial and pool. The contract must be canceled because it specifically states that the money must be used for full restoration of the memorial and the pool.

"We couldn't get around that. The only way is to cancel the contract so that money dies and then we have to reappropriate," Kobayashi said. She has not spoken to Mayor Mufi Hannemann about the plan.

A court ruling halted an $11 million renovation of the memorial because the saltwater pool didn't meet state health requirements. The Kaimana Beach Coalition, which filed the lawsuit to stop the work, supports restoring the arches and creating a beach. Coalition members could not be reached for comment.

Last year, the Natatorium and its bathrooms were closed after a portion of the pool deck collapsed and engineers said the structure was unstable. Former Mayor Jeremy Harris ordered emergency repair work, but in January, in one of his firsts acts as mayor, Hannemann canceled the contract.

City spokesman Bill Brennan said moving forward with any work on the Natatorium is a question of timing.

"The mayor wants to be sure that if and when we take this step, we do it right," Brennan said. "He does favor restoring the beach, but I think he has the Department of Design and Construction looking at what impacts there might be on various alternatives for the Natatorium."

Councilman Charles Djou, whose district includes the Natatorium, said he also wants the mayor and the Council to be on the same page and hopes the city avoids costly litigation.

"My position has always been whatever can save the taxpayers' money and limit liability," he said.

Apo said he is not surprised by this latest move because the mayor and some on the Council have made their positions clear, but he said that the city will be tied up in court if it moves ahead.

"We have no problem in taking them to court," Apo said. "The pool is the memorial, not the facade."