Red Cross blesses renovated Honolulu headquarters

After relocating for two years to two different temporary locations, the American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter began last November to move back into its renovated headquarters at 4155 Diamond Head Rd., Honolulu. On Tuesday, April 1, the organization celebrated its homecoming by blessing the refurbished building.

Besides dealing with needed repairs, contractors roofed over an interior courtyard to create a disaster response "war room" on the second floor and a sizeable new interior meeting space on the first floor. The renovated space is ADA compliant and hurricane resistant. The original building was constructed 30 years ago. The renovations cost about $5 million