It's the decision many have been waiting for.
On Saturday Mayor Hannemann announced what the future holds for the historic Waikiki Natatorium.
The Mayor has agreed with a task force recommendation to partially restore the landmark, moving the veteran memorial inland, demolishing the pool and its bleachers.
The Waikiki Natatorium was built in 1927 and has been showing obvious signs of disrepair ever since.
"The pool has deteriorated beyond repair it does not meet current health standards," says Mayor Mufi Hannemann.
"Having an olympic pool with saltwater is just not part of today," says Retired Lt. General Hank Stackpole, Natatorium Task Force member.
"This was built in 1927 to honor 101 of our citizens that died in World War I two years later there was some structural problems with it and through the years those problems persisted," says Mayor Hannemann.
So, a task force of 17 members was formed to make a final decision on how to restore the aging landmark.
Three options were presented, stabilize the walls, make a full restoration, or restore it partially.
"The challenges both financial health and safety and otherwise not to mention the engineering and construction of the full restoration would be very very difficult to do," says Mayor Hannemann.
Last September, members of the Natatorium Task Force voted to partially restore the landmark... a plan estimated to cost 14 million dollars.
"We have to identify budgeting funding sources so we could be looking at 2017 by the time this partial restoration is completed," says Mayor Hannemann.
The partial restoration of the Waikiki Natatorium will include the removal of the pool and bleachers. The city hopes to begin construction in 2011.
"The eight year timetable indicates that this is not going to be done tomorrow," says Mayor Hannemann.
By moving the arches inland, the city hopes it will not interfere with the limited parking area at nearby Kaimana Beach.
"There is still an EIS that still needs to be done and certainly funding that needs to be identified to be able to go forward with the plans for the natatorium," says Mayor Hannemann.
The city still needs to get permits for construction and an environmental impact statement needs to be completed.
