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First Hawaiian International Auto Show

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The First Hawaiian International Auto Show is an annual auto show held every year between the middle week of March and the first week of April in Honolulu, Hawaii. The event takes place at the Hawaii Convention Center (near the Ala Moana Center), whose location site was once the location of a Chevrolet dealership, Aloha Motors. The event, affiliated with the Motor Trend regional auto show circuit since 2000,[1] is produced by the Hawaii Automotive Dealers Association (HADA) and sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank, with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser serving as the media sponsor. The next event, going into its 38th year, will be held March 18–20, 2016.

Event background

The idea to organize the auto show began in 1978, when First Hawaiian and HADA collaborated on a plan to improve FHB's relationships with dealers and build its image and business. The inaugural show that year drew 67,000 visitors and helped generated business for both the bank and the dealerships.[2] The event, later adding the "International" name to its title in 2000, allows HADA-affiliated dealerships in the state of Hawaii and the automakers themselves to showcase the latest cars, crossovers, trucks, vans, and SUVs to Hawaiian residents, military/DOD/civilian personnel and dependents, car enthusiasts, and tourists (especially from Asia and Oceania). Most of the vehicles showcased are from the dealerships themselves, although a handful of display and concept models will directly come from the companies, which they have shipped by sea or cargo plane weeks in advance of the show because of Hawaii's geographical location. Since its inception, attendance has grown in numbers, with most of the visitors coming to see the event's popular display, the luxury vehicles, which at times have seen sales generated after the show's conclusion.[3]

Other features at the event include displays featuring various car and motorcycle collections sponsored by local car clubs, advice and money-saving promotion booths set up by First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaiian Electric, and numerous auto-related businesses, test drives, and a showcase of the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project, which is scheduled to start service in 2017.

Participating automakers

Unless otherwise noted, the brands listed are sold by more than one dealership in Hawaii

Current Participants

Secondary Participants

Brands that are shown occasionally:

  • Buick/Cadillac/GMC (note: Cadillac was not featured in the 2014, 2015, or 2016 shows; Buick and GMC was excluded in the 2014 show but returned for the 2015 show)
  • Lincoln (will not participate in the 2016 show)

Former/Inactive Participants

A list of brands that were withdrawn from the event:

References

  1. ^ "On auto pilot, from A to Z" from The Honolulu Advertiser (April 8, 2004)
  2. ^ "First Hawaiian Auto Show" from Google Books
  3. ^ "Big Crowds Expected at Hawaii Auto Show This Weekend" from Pacific Business Journal (March 21, 2013)
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