Hawaii auto sales are expected to fall by nearly 20 percent this year, but should begin picking up again by year's end, according to a forecast by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.

The industry group is projecting dealers across the state will sell 34,308 cars and light trucks in 2009 as the economic downturn continues to stifle demand for new vehicles. That would represent a 19.8 percent decline from the 42,804 vehicles sold in 2008. Auto sales fell 25.6 percent in 2008, 14.4 percent in 2007 and 4.3 percent in 2006.