"Approval of this permit gives us the ability to preserve this historic site and better serve the community," said Violet Loo, president of the Museum's Board of Trustees, in a written release.

Georgianna Lagoria, director of the 45-year-old museum, said the approval will mean the museum will be able to add space for the museum's permanent collection and educational programs. The museum hopes to begin construction early next year.

Lagoria said cost of the new construction, renovation and necessary endowment funds to help support the museum will be approximately $23 million. Money has been raised and earmarked for the initial phase of the campaign.

The new galleries, which will house art from the museum's permanent collections, have been designed by the architectural firm of Frederick Fisher and Partners of Santa Monica, California to complement the existing residential nature of the museum's garden campus.

Adaptive use of the neighboring historic Cooke-Petersen house at 2345 Makiki Heights Drive is being designed in the 1952 Vladimir Ossipoff home by the local firm of Mason Architects.

"Both projects will be discussed further with the city before construction proceeds," said Lagoria.

The current galleries in the former Spalding House will continue to provide space for traveling exhibitions. The Milton Cades Hockney pavilion will remain as is.