The War Memorial Natatorium was constructed in
1927 in the honor of 102 Hawaiian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the
motherland in World War 1. The Memorial is located next to the Kiamina Beach
across Kapiolani Park in Oahu Island. The Memorial's main center of attraction
is a giant arch that features four stone eagles standing proudly at the top. The
arch is actually a massive 20 feet high entrance and the entire Natatorium has
been constructed in Hawaiian Beaux-Arts Architectural Style.
The
memorial also features a 100 meter by 40 meter saltwater swimming pool. The
memorial was inaugurated on August 27, 1927 and then Olympic gold medalist Duke Kahanamoku was the first person to swim in the pool. The
Memorial was taken over by US Army that used it for training purposes after the
attack on Pearl Harbor. However, Army returned the Memorial to Honolulu County
after refurbishing it in 1949.
Due to negligence on the part of authorities, the condition of the park has gradually
deteriorated but it is still in use. On August 11, 1980, the natatorium was included in National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu.