A key part of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium quietly has reopened — the bathrooms and showers.

That's according to Lester Chang, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

Waikiki beachgoers had complained for more than two years that the restrooms were closed even though they had been renovated as part of a $4.4 million makeover of the Natatorium. That left residents and visitors to the popular beach using smelly and unsightly portable toilets.

The restrooms were closed in 2004 after some plaster on the ceiling cracked and split.

Chang said that city engineers went carefully through the old, partially restored monument and found the restrooms to be safe.

"We had some repair work done to the exterior to stop water seepage," but no structural damage was found, Chang said.

The reopening last week happened quietly. Chang said city crews did the work and the city will inspect it once a month.

"This is so much better for our community," Chang said. "For those that frequent the area, I think it's going to be very good news."

The restrooms were repaired in 2000 as part of the renovation that included work on the famous arch and the bleachers. Political battles stopped the restoration of the rest of the complex and the Olympic-sized ocean-water pool.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann has said the city doesn't have more money to restore the pool. The memorial built to honor Hawai'i's war dead from World War I has been the focus of decades of debate over whether it should be restored or torn down.

The pool was once the site of gala festivities that included world-famous waterman Duke Kahanamoku, but it began to crumble within just a few years of opening in 1927. The pool has been closed to swimming since 1979, and discussions on what should happen to the historic structure have swirled since then.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.