Place to see: Waikiki Natatorium & War Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

About this place:

The Waikiki Natatorium and War Memorial was built as a tribute to the citizens of the (then) Territory of Hawaii who gave their lives in World War I. Adjacent to the Waikiki Aquarium, the natatorium opened to the public in 1927. Owing to faulty design, however, not to mention a cessation of the swimming craze that had gripped the world during that period, the structure soon fell into disuse and, eventually, disrepair. In the mid-1990’s, $11.5 million was budgeted for restoration of the facility. Sadly, political (what else?) and environmental wrangling has since hampered the project. To date only the entry area and front façade has been completed. More than one commentator and editorial writer has remarked on the irony of a huge saltwater “swimming pool” having been built on the shores of one of the world’s most famous beaches. The continued presence of scaffolding and construction equipment makes photographing the Waikiki Natatorium a real challenge.