Kona Auto Center on the Big Island has broken ground for a new Nissan dealership at its facility on Kuakini Highway in Kailua, Kona.

The new 16,500-square-foot building will house a large auto showroom, service center, parts department and offices and will cost a projected $4 million. Construction is scheduled to take eight to nine months, with the facility opening in June 2008.

With the opening of the new Kona Nissan dealership next year, the company's current facility will continue under the name of Kona Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

Kona Auto Center is owned by I. Kitagawa & Co., which also owns Kama'aina Motors in Hilo, along with NAPA Auto Parts stores in Hilo, Waimea, Kona and Captain Cook. Kona Auto Center has about 30 employees in its sales, parts and service departments. William "Bill" Wilson is general manager.

Brian Kitagawa, president of I. Kitagawa & Co., said the company has been planning the expansion at its Kona location since 2001. He said while Kona Auto Center has been operating almost 20 years, the firm's Hilo operation is the oldest car dealership in the state, having been founded by Kitagawa's great-grandfather in 1915.

The new Kona Nissan building is being designed by Ali'i Architects of Kona, and the construction general contactor is Ivan Mochida Contracting Inc., with site grading and ground work by E.M. Rivera & Sons Inc. Engineering contractors include: civil — Ross Engineering; structural — EHM Engineers Inc.; mechanical — Hakalau Engineers LLC; electrical — Wallace Oki. Financing for the project is by First Hawaiian Bank.

Kona Auto Center will remain open during construction of the Kona Nissan facility.