Natatorium

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revruss · #1 Post by **revruss** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:08 pm

Many of you likely know this but the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial is probably going to be torn down. The Natatorium played a prominent role in one of the MPI episodes where Magnum had to kill a deranged murderer with Phil Collins music playing loudly in the background.

Great episode!

More info here if interested:

http://natatorium.org/

Best,

russell

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:30 pm

Death and Taxes was one of the better Magnum episodes!

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:33 pm

It is on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1980), so I assume that is going to make it dificult for them to tear it down.

N1095A · #4 Post by **N1095A** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:06 pm

I read about this some time ago. It's been closed for years. There is no money to repair it. It's a real shame.
For those who don't know it was also used in "Thank Heaven For Little Girls And Big Ones Too". from which the "other" MPI snorkel shot (with Rick) came from.

revruss · #5 Post by **revruss** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:21 pm

I know What Youre Thinking is right, it will be more difficult to tear down because of the registry. The Mayor seems to be very much behind its destruction and can seemingly get it done.

More here:

http://tinyurl.com/ybvxtow

revruss

Jay-Firestorm · #6 Post by **Jay-Firestorm** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:18 pm

IKnowWhatYoureThinking wrote:Death and Taxes was one of the better Magnum episodes!

You say that as if most of them were bad?

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:52 pm

I guess I should say it is one of my favorite! Besides, a "bad" Magnum episode is still better than almost anything out there.

Little Garwood · #8 Post by **Little Garwood** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:40 pm

IKnowWhatYoureThinking wrote:It is on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1980), so I assume that is going to make it dificult for them to tear it down.

Americans don't seem to value cultural/historical landmarks. If Europe can maintain its castles for hundreds of years, why can't America cherish its own landmarks?

#9 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:02 pm

Little Garwood wrote:
IKnowWhatYoureThinking wrote:It is on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1980), so I assume that is going to make it dificult for them to tear it down.
Americans don't seem to value cultural/historical landmarks. If Europe can maintain its castles for hundreds of years, why can't America cherish its own landmarks?

The 'out with the old, in with the new' mentality is commonplace in Canada too...something that drives me crazy. Here in Europe (where I'm living now) there is a deep sense of pride on a local scale. The problem is, renovating and maintaining ancient buildings is super expensive...meaning high taxes or interest groups raising funds. Here in Switzerland, the taxes aren't high but the preservation laws are completely inflexible and property is scarce - so it works.

Not sure about Honolulu. You'd think this cool structure would be worth preserving - even though it would probably be impossible to turn a profit as a private venture. I mean, it's actually honouring those who died in WWI - that's gotta be worth preserving!

Braddah Kimo · #10 Post by **Braddah Kimo** » Wed May 01, 2013 12:02 am

It's destruction is imminent. Search staradvertiser for natatorium. Current plans soon to be implemented will change the area dramatically. Sad. No respect for history here.

Danno · #11 Post by **Danno** » Wed May 01, 2013 12:34 am

On the other hand, in Australia we have over stringent regulations over the alterations or additions or demolition of structures deemed 'historically significant' by councils. As an architect, this is occasionally a real pain to deal with.

The facade of the Natatorium is being relocated whilst the rest is being demolished to make way for public beach. Here's a really bad Photoshop of it:

http://www.khon2.com/2013/04/30/waikiki ... lic-beach/

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/haw ... _torn_down

It looks like the existing building is dangerous- but $69 million to refurbish? No way. Who are these 'officials'?!