Also, Aloha KIA of Kona moved in March from near Honokohau Harbor to its Palani Road location.
BY BOBBY COMMAND
WEST HAWAII TODAY
bcommand@westhawaiitoday.com
Despite the rising cost of fuel, auto dealerships in Kona seem to be running on full tanks.
At least five lots are opening or expanding services in Kailua, including two new dealerships, BMW of Honolulu in the Kailua-Kona industrial area and Kona Nissan adjacent to Kona Auto Center. In addition, Big Island Toyota has broken ground on its new Henry Street location and Big Island Honda has greatly expanded its Kuakini Highway facility.
“Our company feels like Kona is the largest growth market on the Big Island,” said Jan Whiteside, vice president of operations for Big Island Toyota, which broke ground on a four-acre parcel March 13 for its new lot. “I’m sure the other dealers feel the same way.”
“It’s always been our intention to move,” said Whiteside, who said the dealer, now located on Kaiwi Street, hopes to open in summer 2010. “Dave DeLuz Sr. purchased that property in 1990, but it’s taken us this long to start building.”
Whiteside said the challenge at the old lot has been enough space to display the large Toyota inventory. “We say we offer A to Y, from Avalon to Yaris,” she said. “We also need to set aside space for our Scions,” which are sold at a base price with buyers customizing them to meet their needs. “It’s a whole new way of buying a car.”
She said the dealership’s service department has also struggled in the tight quarters. “Our cars last so long,” said Whiteside. “When we open the new lot, our service and parts department will be three times larger.”
At Kona Auto Center, the 16,000-square-foot display floor for the new Kona Nissan dealership is set to open in mid July.
“It’s going to have a covered drive-through service area,” said Bill Wilson, Kona Auto Center general manager. “The waiting area will be enclosed and air conditioned, there will be a play area for the kids, computer center and everything will be ADA accessible.”
Wilson said Kona Auto Center, which owns both dealerships, felt it important for Nissan to have a separate brand identity from the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealership. “We already separated our technicians,” said Wilson, “and this will allow for even better service and parts departments.”
An employee of Kona Auto Center since 1986, Wilson said he is excited about the changes. “It’s good to see the company making an investment,” he said. “This is basically for the consumer, and they will get even more professional service out of this.”
In the industrial area being developed by Queen Liliuokalani Trust, BMW of Honolulu will open a satellite showroom in August.
“This is going to be a dealership like no other,” said Aka DeMesa, who has been selected as the general manager of the Kona dealership.
“When you walk in, you won’t see sweaty technicians working outside,” he said. “Our service area is going to be tiled and air conditioned. It’s first class all the way.
Unlike larger brands, DeMesa said all the BMW dealerships are under the general management of BMW of Honolulu. “We’re an extension of them,” he said.
But he added that won’t make service difficult. “We’ll be a full-service dealership,” he said. “We’ll be able to sell new and pre-owned cars and service the existing ones on the Big Island.”
DeMesa also said new BMW dealerships are equipped with the latest industry technology. “That means it will be the most up-to-date dealership of its kind when it opens.”
At Big Island Honda, the dealership has expanded next door and then some to provide more space for new and used autos, and to allow more space for a service area on the older lot.
“We’re just expanding,” said Gregg Gaspar, general manager of the 200-stall, lighted parking lot. “Honda sales have been good for us, and this is a reflection of that.”
Gaspar who said the fenced-off area McKenna Motors had used for auto storage also belongs to Big Island Honda and will be used by the company as another parking lot.
“We’re just making sure that we can properly service out customers,” Gaspar said.
Also, Aloha KIA of Kona moved in March from near Honokohau Harbor to its Palani Road location.