Honolulu Fire Department Chief Attilio Leonardi, center, flanked by Mayor Jeremy Harris, left, and Fire Commissioner Anson “Slim” Ilae, celebrates the groundbreaking of the department’s new headquarters today in Kaka‘ako. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Kahu John Lake blesses the old Kaka‘ako Station, which will become the site of the HPD’s new museum and memorial. The station was built in 1929 and closed in 1973. . Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Rev. Alan Urasaki blesses the site of the fire department’s new headquarters on the corner of Queen and South streets. . Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The three-story building will be the first dedicated headquarters the department has ever had, officials said today at groundbreaking ceremonies.

But its graceful design and tall palm trees also will brighten an area once used by a Chevron service station.

The $15 million project at the corner of South and Queen streets also includes renovation of the historic Kaka'ako Station so it can be used as a museum and memorial to fallen firefighters.

Built in 1929 and closed in 1973, the old station is said to be haunted, something not lost at the groundbreaking.

"This station will be blessed today and blessed a few times over before we’re finished," Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi said this morning. "As you know, this place has a reputation for ... ahem ... spiritual energy."

The last time the department had its own headquarters was in 1960 when administrators shared space in the Central Station downtown. After that, they rented a floor of the old police station before moving to the Airport Industrial Park.

"We’ve been wandering in the wilderness for 43 years," said Deputy Fire Chief John Clark.