Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium
Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium
3.5
About
Honors 102 servicemen from Hawaii killed in World War I.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Plan your visit
The area
Neighbourhood: Diamond Head - Kapahulu - St. Louis
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1,166 within 5 kms
Attractions
379 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
3.5
44 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
5
Average
16
Poor
5
Terrible
6
Dream7458
Annapolis, Maryland1 contribution
This memorial, right on Waikiki Beach, is a great location to stop and meditate while on your way to hike Diamond Head. It is a small stadium like structure that is being restored. It honors servicemen lost in WWI. Some areas are
currently fenced off, but you can look through the fence to see the vintage swimming pool area. This
naturally fed, ocean front, salt water swimming pool is currently closed. In addition to its function as a memorial, I understand that this Natatorium was where athletes of yester year exercised.
I've heard of memorial stadiums, but this is the
first time I've heard of a huge swimming pool to honor war dead. You see, Natatorium is a word that means "manmade pool inside of a structure". A few minutes here however, reading of the sacrifices of War heros past is certainly a good use of time when in Waikiki. The view from this location is one of Waikiki's best in my opinion. Parking is easy and the location is close to the Waikiki Shell
(outdoor performance area). It is easy to find
and well worth your time.
currently fenced off, but you can look through the fence to see the vintage swimming pool area. This
naturally fed, ocean front, salt water swimming pool is currently closed. In addition to its function as a memorial, I understand that this Natatorium was where athletes of yester year exercised.
I've heard of memorial stadiums, but this is the
first time I've heard of a huge swimming pool to honor war dead. You see, Natatorium is a word that means "manmade pool inside of a structure". A few minutes here however, reading of the sacrifices of War heros past is certainly a good use of time when in Waikiki. The view from this location is one of Waikiki's best in my opinion. Parking is easy and the location is close to the Waikiki Shell
(outdoor performance area). It is easy to find
and well worth your time.
Written 8 January 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randall S
Lafayette, CO73 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
The site has some information on how the site once was an important facility. But it is largely chained off and not very accessible. Rather sad.
Written 3 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Llewellyn53
Melbourne, Australia4,284 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
A slice of art deco history that is in dire need of some serious restoration work. The front has had some patching but the pool deck and walls are literally falling to pieces and it is likely to get worse when you look at how long it takes anything to be done on Oahu. Worth a look as you walk past but don't go out of your way. We chatted to a local and he told us it was sad that there wasn't even a plan underway to fix the pool because of it's historical significance
Written 30 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deniseherrera
Rocklin, CA54 contributions
Just got back from Oahu. We loved are time there. Before going I had read about the Natatorium, the history of the famous people who had swam in the pool. It would be ashamed to not try to do whatever possible to save this beautiful landmark. It has such beautiful detail. I went into the restroom and shower area and it looked as if time had stood still the doorway is gated up to the pool area. It was so awesome. If you are planning a trip to Oahu please go and check this site out and try to invision what it must of been like to be there in the day seeing Duke, or Johnny Wisemuller, or Buster Crabb practicing in the pool getting ready for the olympics.
Written 11 May 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeffmcneill
Chiang Mai, Thailand79 contributions
May 2016 • Family
Any reviewer who would demand this be torn down may not be aware that this is a war memorial. The memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of WWI cannot be bulldozed. There are both moral and legal issues at work here. Restoration is the only honorable course. In addition, there is no beach without the War Memorial. The memorial has created the beach. It is all too easy for people to forget where they came from, and take for granted things like liberty, when others paid the ultimate cost for it. Just like a beach that came into being in the shelter of the War Memorial. Never forget.
Written 5 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gretchiekc
Monterey, CA80 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
This memorial is beautiful, moving....a work of art...but it's not the quiet dignity of its stunning architecture that brings me to tears, it's the fact that this tribute to Hawaii's brave men has been allowed to literally fall apart. As a student of history and someone who grew up next to the battlefield of Gettysburg, I have STRONG feelings in regards to maintaining and preserving the past. In it's heyday, this Natatorium was a swimming pool built in the ocean that hosted such stars as Esther Williams. It was intended to be a living memorial, something that present-day Hawaiians could enjoy while remembering those who sacrificed so much. A friend and I went walking past it just a few weeks ago and there are large large holes in what used to be the deck, it's chained up, overgrown, and crumbling. What a sad sad way to remember those 10,000 for whom it was built. Hawaii, you should be heartily ashamed of yourself for allowing this to happen. With all the money you make from tourism and the military presence on Oahu, you should have had more than enough to keep this beautiful monument from falling into the state that it is currently. There is absolutely no reason for this disgusting show of apathy.
Written 4 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rshay
Post Falls, ID744 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
10,000 Hawaiians served in World War I and when they came home, they pitched in with the government and built the Natatorium War Memorial. But like so many buildings, stadiums and bridges built to honor the sacrifice of our service personnel in "The Great War", no thought was given to the long term maintenance of these structures. As a result many have fallen in disrepair and all too many have been demolished without a trace. It is a disgrace. This structure has been restored to some degree, but it's future is still being debated. Now the National Trust for Historic Preservation organization has gotten involved so there is hope. A visit to this memorial is a stirring experience and the bonus is that there is a very nice uncrowded beach right next to it.
Parking around the park is plentiful. You should also take time to walk around the park in front of the Memorial. There is a brick monument to the soldiers with a large bronze plaque. There are also many very mature Banyan trees that have very vigorous roots dropping from the high branches which makes for some very interesting pictures.
Parking around the park is plentiful. You should also take time to walk around the park in front of the Memorial. There is a brick monument to the soldiers with a large bronze plaque. There are also many very mature Banyan trees that have very vigorous roots dropping from the high branches which makes for some very interesting pictures.
Written 22 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jefferyp2017
San Antonio, TX1,965 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
The Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial is a World War 1 war memorial on Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, it was built in 1927. It's basically an ocean water public swimming pool. The natatorium was built as a living memorial dedicated to those who served during the great war. I was looking for something different, off of the hustle and bustle trail of sunscreen soaked tourists crowded onto Waikiki beach. Then I stumbled onto this place, its a bit off the beaten path but I enjoyed the early morning walk it took to get there. It was in a sad state of disrepair when I saw it back in April and I understand they were unsure of what to do with it back then, I hope they save it, as looks to me as if it wants to be saved and I think it really deserves the renovation. This War Memorial was dedicated to a generation of American Heroes who are no longer with us, and I hope this place remains to remind us of that. Good Luck Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium
Written 4 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pekemartin
Oregon City, OR25 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
I have been here 3-4 times.....& was heartbroken each time.... last time being 1/15.....just heard on the national news today 7/6/15 they are thinking about tearing it down & I am sure a BIG hotel will soon underway in this location.
Written 6 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ORD-TGU
Tegucigalpa, Honduras6,496 contributions
Nov 2013 • Family
My poor review is not for the memorial in itself, but for the poor management and lack of interest by the authorities.
There are a large number of tourists that visit this island, many spending a lot of money and paying hotel/tourist taxes, is it not fair to allocate some funds to updated it and make it a place of historical interest and remembrance.
It is abandoned, and I hope soon it is put on someone's priority list.
There are a large number of tourists that visit this island, many spending a lot of money and paying hotel/tourist taxes, is it not fair to allocate some funds to updated it and make it a place of historical interest and remembrance.
It is abandoned, and I hope soon it is put on someone's priority list.
Written 12 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing