New vehicle registrations in Hawai'i rose 9.2 percent in August from the same month a year earlier, apparently helped by sales related to the Cash for Clunkers program, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association said.

In a span of a little more than three weeks starting July 27, some 1,850 people bought new vehicles under the national program that provided new car buyers credits of up to $4,500 from the government for trading in their gas-guzzler.

The August increase was a welcome change for Hawai'i's auto dealers, whose sales had been sharply lower prior to the program. The 9.2 percent increase in registrations outpaced the national 1.1 percent increases in new vehicle registrations, HADA said.

DENTISTS PUT SMILE ON VISITOR INDUSTRY

The dentists are coming back — some 24,000 of them are expected at the Hawai'i Convention Center starting next week — when the American Dental Association holds its 150th annual session from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

The meeting is expected to draw an international attendance of 24,000, resulting in statewide spending of more than $113 million and tax revenue of nearly $11 million. The center's hotel partners will benefit with nearly 193,000 booked room nights.

The last time the ADA held its meeting in Hawai'i was in 1999 in the then-new center. Since then, other dental organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry have held meetings here. In 1999, 30,000 members of the ADA attended.

VISITORS BUREAU PACKS FOR CHICAGO

The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau heads next week to Chicago to promote Hawai'i's lure for business meetings and reward travel at the world's largest incentive exhibition, The Motivation Show.

Leading the bureau sales team is John Monahan, president and chief executive officer, with more than 70 sales executives from Hawai'i participating in the statewide effort, representing the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau, O'ahu Visitors Bureau, Maui Visitors Bureau, Big Island Visitors Bureau, Hawai'i Convention Center and 28 travel industry partners. The show runs Tuesday through Thursday.