The First Hawaiian MotorCon 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, 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, is produced by the Hawaii Automotive Dealers Association and sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank, with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser serving as the media sponsor. The recent event, going into its 42nd year, was planned for March 27-29, 2020. Hawaii Governor David Ige announced at his press conferenceMarch 17, that he is closing the Hawaii Convention Center for 30 days to limit social contact in light of recent community spread of Covid-19 virus infections. The auto show is cancelled by the Hawaii Convention Center for 2020, but will return in 2021.
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. 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. 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. 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 Rail Transit, which is scheduled to start service in 2020.
Participating automakers
Unless otherwise noted, the brands listed are sold by more than one dealership in Hawaii
Brands that are shown occasionally; some brands had opted not to participate in the 2020 event, which was announced before its cancellation of the Auto Show in March 2020:
