Kaiser Permanente Hawaii held a traditional Hawaiian groundbreaking and blessing ceremony Monday at the future site of its new medical office building in North Kona. The 40,000-square-foot medical office building will house approximately 30 exam rooms and offices for 20 health care professionals. It will provide health care for the more than 20,000 Kaiser members on Hawaii island’s west and north service areas.

The new clinic, scheduled to be completed mid-2014, will be on nearly 10 acres at the corner of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Hono­ko­hau Street.

Once it opens, the new medical office building will replace the existing clinic at 75-184 Hua­la­lai Road in Kona.

The new Kona clinic will be one of the health care organization’s biggest construction projects since it completed a new wing and major renovations at its Moana­lua Medical Center on Oahu in 2008.

Kaiser also has Hawaii island clinics in Waimea, Hilo and South Kona.

"We are pleased to be expanding our services and creating a ‘medical hub’ for our members on the Big Island, particularly in Kona, where the population continues to grow and where access to health care and specialty care is a challenge," said Janet Liang, president of Kaiser Hawaii.

"This new site in Hono­ko­hau is located on a main thoroughfare, making it convenient for current and future members, with ample parking."