Class Is Now In Session At First-ever Kia Learning Center

Owners William and Niki van den Hurk (with leis) at the Aloha Kia Learning Center blessing ceremony at Windward Mall with Kahu Thompson. Photo by Leah Friel, lfriel@midweek.com.

Nestled on the mall’s lower level in the busy corner next to Sears, Aloha Kia is prepared to educate everyone who walks in about its new cars.

The official grand opening and blessing March 27 at Windward Mall launched the first-ever Aloha Kia Learning Center, marking what the company believes is a new era in how America sells cars.

It’s a spacious showroom, but also a pilot project for sharing all kinds of information about its cars. Salespeople are called professors, for example, and everyone can sit back and relax as they absorb all the details about engines, colors and high-tech innovations on every model.

“The Learning Center is one of the best things to happen to Kia automobiles,” said Bill van den Hurk, who owns the Kaneohe dealership – and the world’s only Kia Learning Center – with his wife Niki.

“It’s the perfect place to introduce a large audience to the Kia brand in a very relaxed and educational environment. We wanted to create an environment where families, couples or singles could leisurely acquaint themselves with Kia automobiles.”

The learning center – where you also can actually buy a car – is open during mall hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Sundays. And it’s near the mall’s food court, in case customers want to grab a bite after all that relaxing.