Palani Vaughan

Enjoy five great performances for just $20, and Stand Up for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial!

Palani Vaughan is a 2008 inductee into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. He is best known for his albums with the King’s Own honoring King David Kalakaua and the music of Hawaii’s monarchy period. The Honolulu Lounge Lizards — DeWayne Valdez, Stan Combis and Larsen Abilla – play Hawaiian party music at its best.

These new acts join the smooth Motown sound group A Touch of Gold and headliners Titus Kinimaka and The Kauai Boys and Henry Kapono with their support for the Natatorium.

With sincere thanks to our performers and sponsors, Marian’s Catering and Oiwi Ocean Gear, here are the full details:

When: Sunday, Aug. 29, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.

Where: The Shack Waikiki In Honolulu at 2255 Kuhio Ave.

What: “Stand Up for the Natatorium,” a benefit bash for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial

Who: Our lineup for the evening is:
–Palani Vaughan and the King’s Own
–A Touch of Gold
–The Honolulu Lounge Lizards
–”The Wild Hawaiian” Henry Kapono
–Titus Kinimaka and The Kauai Boys

Why: To remember, respect and renew the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the state’s living memorial to the 10,000 men and women from Hawaii who served in World War I. Great music. Great artists. Great cause.

Tickets: $20, available from Honoluluboxoffice.com.

For more information: Send a message to natatorium@natatorium.org

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1. Get your tickets now! “Stand Up for the Natatorium” benefit concert Sunday, Aug. 29
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3. Happy Birthday to Duke… and the Natatorium!

Today is the 120th birthday of the ultimate Hawai’i waterman, Duke Kahanamoku: Olympic swimming champion, surfer, diver, paddler and sailor.

Duke Kahanamoku

That ceremony kicked off the four-day AAU National Outdoor Swimming Championships, a meet studded with stars like Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe and Japan’s Katsuo “Flying Fish” Takaishi. According to a Honolulu Star-Bulletin account, “Opening night attracted 6,000 people. … The Natatorium was packed with spectators — as was every tree outside with a view of the pool.” After the meet, an international swimming official called the Natatorium “one of the best, if not the best, swimming arenas in the world.”

The Natatorium was built as a living memorial to more than 10,000 men and women from Hawai’i who served in the Great War. The 1921 Legislature’s Act 15 decreed that the memorial should include “a swimming course of no less than 100 meters” to perpetuate Hawaii’s storied swimming legacy.

Through the years, many other Olympians, celebrated swimmers and watermen followed in the Duke’s wake at the Natatorium. Generations of Hawaii’s children learned to swim in its waters; it was one of Waikiki’s most beloved gathering places.

So, happy birthday to two of Waikiki’s great, Duke Kahanamoku and the Natatorium!

Let’s celebrate!

Today through Saturday, remember Duke by taking part in Duke’s OceanFest 2010.

Then, this Sunday, Aug. 29, join Titus Kinimaka, Henry Kapono, A Touch of Gold and more at the “Stand Up for the Natatorium” benefit concert at The Shack Waikiki. Hear great music; have a great time; support a great cause: the restoration and revival of the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial. Details here. Tickets (just $20!) here.

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1. Nice list. Where’s the Natatorium?
2. Get your tickets now! “Stand Up for the Natatorium” benefit concert Sunday, Aug. 29
3. Now playing…

Titus Kinimaka

Island sons Titus Kinimaka, Henry Kapono, and the show group A Touch of Gold headline our first “Stand Up for the Natatorium” benefit concert, Sunday, Aug. 29, 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Shack Waikiki.

Our performers are donating their time and talent to support restoration of Waikiki’s world-famous Natatorium War Memorial. Bring the whole family to enjoy great music, pupu and the company of fellow Natatorium supporters.

It’s not just a concert; it’s also a birthday celebration. The about-to-turn 83 Natatorium shares its Aug. 24 birthday and swimming history with another ocean icon, the legendary Duke Kahanamoku. The Duke turned 37 the day he inaugurated the Natatorium with a swim at its ceremonial opening.

Tickets for “Stand Up for the Natatorium” are $20 and are available from Honoluluboxoffice.com. There will be a raffle and door prizes from Patagonia, Speedo and HIC.

Henry Kapono

Here are the details:

When: Sunday, Aug. 29, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.

Where: The Shack Waikiki In Honolulu at 2255 Kuhio Ave.

What: “Stand Up for the Natatorium,” a benefit bash for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial

Who: Performers include Titus Kinimaka and The Kauai Boys, ”The Wild Hawaiian” Henry Kapono and the singing/dancing Motown show group A Touch of Gold.

Why: To benefit the Friends of the Natatorium. To support the fight to remember, restore and renew the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the state’s living memorial to the 10,000 men and women from Hawaii who served in World War I. Great music. Great artists. Great cause.

Tickets: $20, available from Honoluluboxoffice.com.

For more information: Send a message to natatorium@natatorium.org

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When: Sunday, Aug. 29, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Where: The Shack Waikiki In Honolulu at 2255 Kuhio Ave.

What: “Stand Up for the Natatorium,”An OceanFest Wrap-up Benefit Bash for the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial

Who: Performers confirmed so far include Henry Kapono and Titus Kinimaka & The Kauai Boys. More artists to be announced soon; check back here for updates.

Why: To benefit the Friends of the Natatorium. To support the fight to remember, restore and renew the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium, the state’s living memorial to the 10,000 men and women from Hawaii who served in World War I.

Great music. Great artists. Great cause.

For more information: Make a note to check this website again soon, or send a message to natatorium@natatorium.org

Related posts:

1. Get your tickets now! “Stand Up for the Natatorium” benefit concert Sunday, Aug. 29
2. Breaking news: Two acts added to Sunday’s Natatorium benefit lineup!
3. Save the Date! Memorial Day Service on Sunday, May 30th

As Natatorium supporter Chris Boyle said when he sent us this link with 12 cool swimming pools, “I think this list is missing one pool, in Hawaii.” That’s for sure, Chris!

For decades, from the first stroke taken by Duke Kahanamoku the day it was dedicated in 1927, the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial was on anyone’s list of the world’s most important swimming pools.

It can be on those lists again. Let’s fix it, and swim!

There’s no reason in the world that this pool in Honolulu

should be any less celebrated than this one in Australia

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Aloha! Please join us and our friends from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation on Thursday, July 8, to learn about the most endangered historic sites in Hawai‘i and efforts to save them.

That’s the date for Pau Hana with a Purpose, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Design Within Reach Studio on the top level of Ala Moana Center (next to Nordstrom). This event is free and open to the public; no reservations are required. Wine and refreshments will be served.

Meet some of us from the Friends of the Natatorium and from HHF, and talk also with the dedicated folks working to preserve three of our state’s other “Most Endangered” sites:
• Kalauha‘eha’e Fishpond (Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center)
• Lapakahi (Trust for Public Land)
• Queen Theater (Friends of Queen Theater)

Please nominate other threatened historic properties here for possible inclusion on HHF’s 2010 Most Endangered list. The deadline for nominations is July 23.

See you after work on July 8!

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Hawai’i Public Radio’s Adrienne LaFrance was on hand for Sunday’s 22nd annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Natatorium and filed a report that aired Monday and Tuesday.

The story does a fine job of both capturing the spirit of the event and updating listeners on the natatorium issue.

One excerpt from the story seems particularly worth thinking about. It quotes our keynote speaker at Sunday’s ceremony, Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon, commanding general of the U.S. Army, Pacific.

LaFrance observes that “veterans from World War I, the soldiers the memorial was built to honor, are no longer alive to see it.” But, she continues, General Mixon “says the very purpose of war memorials is to outlive those who lived through the periods they commemorate.”

“In a time when many of our young people are not focused on that history,” the general told LaFrance, it is “easy … for the young people to go to [a] memorial, look at the names that are on the wall of remembrance and they will understand enough about the history of this great country and the sacrifices of all its service members.”

If you missed the HPR story, you can listen to it here.

Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon speaking to a youngster after his keynote address at the 22nd annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial.

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Marine Cpl. Marcus Smith plays "Taps."

Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the Natatorium on Sunday for our 22nd annual Memorial Day observance! It was a beautiful day and a memorable morning: thought-provoking addresses by our speakers, Lieutenant General Benjamin Mixon and Kim Napier; beautiful, meaningful vocal and hula performances; the inspirational participation of our military men and women and the King’s Guard; the presence of so many veterans.

Here are just a few photographs from the ceremony. To see more on Flickr, click here. For a slideshow, click here. Another set of photos is available on Picasa here. A Picasa slideshow here.

Thanks again!

Hula Halau Olana and the 15th Air Wing Honor Guard.

Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon, commander, U.S. Army, Pacific.

The King's Guard

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Please join us this Sunday morning, May 30, for the 22nd annual Memorial Service at the Waikiki Natatorium.

We remember Hawai’i’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines with music, hula and oratory. And we do so at the place dedicated to their memory by the people of our state.

A music and hula prelude starts at 9:30 a.m. and our moving formal ceremony begins at 10 a.m. This year’s theme is “Ku pa’a i ka ho’ihi, ka ho’omana’o, me ka ho’ala,” or “Committed to Respect, Remembrance and Renewal.”

Our keynote speaker, representing veterans and active duty military personnel, will be Lieutenant General Benjamin R. Mixon, Commander, U.S. Army, Pacific, and a highly decorated veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. General Mixon commands all U. S. Army active and reserve forces across the entire Pacific Theater.

Also speaking will be A. Kim Napier, editor of Honolulu Magazine. Participants include an Air Force honor guard and the King’s Guard Drill Team. There will be performances by Hula Halau Olana, Prince Kuhio Civic Club Chorale, Nalani Olds and others.

All are welcome, and covered seating will be available. Look for the tent in Kapiolani Park right outside the Natatorium’s gate. Bring your family, and invite your friends to join you in showing your respect and admiration for our military men and women. You will be glad you came. Mahalo.

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