DIAMOND HEAD — For the first time in 33 years, the building that houses the state chapter of the American Red Cross is getting some much-needed renovations.

But the nonprofit organization dedicated to helping others needs a little help itself.

The project to renovate the two-story building at the base of Diamond Head crater will cost $4.6 million. But the organization needs about $500,000 more to complete the work, which is expected to wrap up in September.

And the renovations are badly needed. The plumbing, electrical and air-conditioning systems need to be upgraded. The carpet and furniture need to be replaced. The building itself isn't up to current ADA standards or built to withstand a hurricane.

In fact, it doesn't even have a generator to power its operations in the event of a natural disaster.

"We run everything out of this building," said Coralie Matayoshi, chief executive officer. "It would help the whole state if we could operate during a hurricane."

Renovations began in late 2005.

Since then, dozens of staffers and volunteers have been relocated to office space Downtown and in portable classrooms on the campus of Kalani High School.

But as the project progressed, the cost rose and the organization found itself about $500,000 short of completing it.

"It's been such a moving target," Matayoshi said.

The total cost of the project doesn't include some wish-list renovations the organization had to put on hold such as constructing a safe room in the building or obtaining new office furniture.

Matayoshi said the chapter really needs a disaster storage room in the building's basement.

Right now, it stores its cots, blankets and water in a tunnel in Diamond Head Crater.

But to build the additional storage space would cost another $158,000.

"We just don't have the money," Matayoshi said, adding that every dollar the organization receives goes toward operations, leaving hardly any to spare for such building projects.

More than 36,000 people take classes at the Diamond Head site every year.

The Hawai'i Red Cross responds to an average of 108 disasters, such as house and brush fires, each year.

And since 1917, it has provided food, shelter, clothing and crisis counseling to victims of everything from hurricanes to floods to acts of violence.

"Now that we've got the majority of the money, we're going for it, it's going to be finished," Matayoshi said. "But it would be awfully helpful to get more donations."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.