Kaiser Permanente Hawaii broke ground Thursday on a $15 million expansion project of its Koo­lau clinic in Kaneohe.

The renovation will add 6,000 square feet to the facility at 45-602 Kamehameha Highway, including two new exam rooms and larger space for pharmacy services.

"This beautiful new facility will make it easier for our members to access quality health care all under one roof," Janet Liang, Kaiser’s president, said in a statement. "This expansion project positions us well for future growth and demonstrates our long-term commitment to our members and the communities we serve."

The Koolau clinic, which offers pharmaceutical, diagnostic imaging, behavioral health and primary care services under one roof, served more than 37,000 patients last year. The last major expansion of a Kaiser clinic was in South Kona in 2010.

The state’s largest health maintenance organization also is upgrading equipment at the facility encompassing more than 17,000 square feet. Kaiser expects the project to be completed in late 2013.

Meanwhile, Kaiser’s $170 million renovation under way at the Moana­lua Medical Center and Clinic is anticipated to be done by year’s end. The hospital completed a $130 million renovation project in 2008.

The company is proposing a 5.3 percent health insurance rate increase on Jan. 1 for more than 150,000 members, citing escalating medical costs as the driving factor.

Kaiser operates 18 clinics Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island, including a Kailua clinic on the Windward side.