LIHU‘E — The blustery weather created excitement at the First Hawaiian Bank Auto Show that opened Saturday and continues today, Sunday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kukui Grove park and pavilion. “It could be better,”
LIHU‘E — The blustery weather created excitement at the First Hawaiian Bank Auto Show that opened Saturday and continues today, Sunday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kukui Grove park and pavilion.
“It could be better,” one of the sales personnel from the four major auto dealers said as he pulled his jacket up a little tighter in response to the winds that blew through the Kukui Grove park, punctuated by the slap of balloons against metal and glass.
“But, the people who brave the weather to come check out the cars must be serious (buyers), so that’s good,” he said.
Kauai Toyota, King Auto Center, Kuhio Motors and Midpac Auto Center are all represented throughout the park, with each dealership touting its newest models and offering special sale prices on a lot of inventory as well.
At Kauai Toyota, where additional personnel were brought in from off-island, the highlighted automobile was the hybrid Prius, which runs on gas and electric power.
Kauai Toyota sales personnel were also discussing the forthcoming hybrid Highlander sport utility vehicle.
Ron Valencia at King Auto Center did not have a model on hand, but expressed excitement about the 2005 Chrysler mini-van that features fold-in seats resulting in a flat bed, and while upright, provides storage beneath them.
More on the exotic side, a Corvette convertible beckoned a test drive, egged on by Mike Dandurand. But the chilly wind and rain kept the top up.
Nestled between their offering at Kuhio Motors was an entry-level 2004 Chevy Aveo that sported a sales price that stopped shoppers, while on the other end of the price spectrum, a diesel pickup that teetered towards $40,000 also got a lot of looks.
Midpac Auto Center offered up a wide variety of Ford and Mazda vehicles, including the new 2004 Mazda 3 in several configurations, and at sale prices, most shoppers were hard-pressed to decide which vehicle appealed to them the most.
Patrons had ample opportunity to sign up for a variety of prizes as well as the grand prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas, as Shelly Cobb was kept busy picking up entry forms from the dealerships.
To keep the little ones entertained, Happy the Clown was busy non-stop crafting balloon sculptures, doing magic tricks, and even engaging in bouts of chase games with the youngsters.
They had discovered her tent provided shelter from the occasional showers that sent other shoppers scampering for the cover of the closest tent.
These showers were the perfect opportunity for patrons to take a walk into the pavilion, where they had a chance to pull the handle on a Las Vegas-type slot machine as well as enjoy specially-priced hot dogs and soda.
Sports Editor Dennis Fujimoto may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
