Joseph Nicolai Obituary

January 9, 2024, Joseph Pasquale Nicolai, 88, an automotive and motorcycle
dealer passed away. Son of Italian immigrants from Castiglione A Casauria in Abruzzo,
Joe was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts. His parents, Joseph and Nancy eventually
moved Joe and his sister Mary Arm to Van Nuys, California while they were teenagers.
it was here that Joe found his love for cars. By the age of 19, he was already one of the
top salesmen in the nation for Ford.
With an aspiring career well on the way, his dreams were placed on hold as Joe
was drafted into the Army. Although he aspired to be stationed back to his roots in
Italy, the sun and sandy beaches of Hawaii was a close second. As a cryptologist, he
was stationed at Schofield Army Base. However, his Italian dialect, learned from dinner
table conversations with his mom and dad, helped Joe find his way onto an Italian
submarine. As a young soldier, Joe became the US. liaison to The Evangelista Torricelli
while it was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Glamorous as it would sound, Joe spent most
of his time in Honolulu keeping the young Italian sailors out of trouble. Having his own
fun at the same time.
Upon completing his time in the Army, Joe saw Hawaii as the land of opportunity.
In 1961, at the age of 26, his dream of grandeur begun. With not much more than
the shirt on his back, and $1,200 in the pockets of his blue jeans, Joe started a little
used car business on a dirt lot located at 1212 Ala Moana Blvd. Bringing in California
customs to the Island was fresh and exciting, with glistening candy apple paint jobs,
and Tijuana tuck and roll interiors. These were the cars children fantasized for, and
adults aspired to drive.
With only a couple of years of college, majoring in History and Theater, Joe went
to work. Skills which were not becoming of a car dealer, Joe used his theatrics and
hit the airwaves. Joe entertained the late night with a variety show, which included his
cars, and his pet celebrities, Mickey his Woolly Spider Monkey, Repo the Rabbit, and
Wholesale the Dog. Fun and engaging, Joe always delivered a good time, even when
selling a car.
Always at the cutting edge of marketing, Joe relocated out by the airport, bringing
Wholesale Motors to the open fields of Nimitz Hwy in 1963. Wholesale Motors was the
home of the Telstar, an elliptical array of light which sat atop the dealership which could
be seen far and wide. Customers would gravitate to the Telstar and spend weekends on
his motorcross track behind the dealership, or with their children at his petting farm in
between looking for their dream car to take home.
However, success didn't come automatically for Joe. His first franchise Studebaker
was a hit in its first year, only to file bankruptcy shortly thereafter. His second chance
of success came with the Japanese manufacturer Prince. That too was short lived, and
was soon absorbed by Datson, and ceased to exist. Yet throughout the ups and downs
of the economy, Joe continued to show resilience. Today, JN Group and Cycle City
represent 28 automotive and motorcycle brands from around the world, ranging from
Chevrolet to Ferrari. Including being the Distributor for Harley-Davidson throughout
Hawaii and Guam, as well as the Distributor for Kawasaki in Hawaii.
His contributions to the automotive industry, the local community, and innovative
projects back in his parent's hometown in Italy, led the Italian Government to honor
him as a Cavaliere. This is one of the highest honors in Italy, and like being Knighted in
England. Although receiving the honor didn't come with a horse like he had hoped, it
still, and continues to be held in the highest esteem amongst those of Italian descent.
He is survived by his sister Mary Ann Minner, her husband Kenneth, their children
Todd, and Stephanie. Eleanor, and their daughter Talia and her children Roman, Tehani,
and Melia. Their son Brad and his children Bella, Ryder, and Jagger. His consiglieres
Gato, Mackie, Daisy, and Nala. Along with many other nieces and nephews in Hawaii,
and his extended family in Boston, New York, Italy, and Australia.
In honor of this continued commitment to making Hawaii a better place for future
generations, any donations can be made to the 501C3 foundation he set forth. Proceeds
here will be distributed to Hawaii non-profits with a focus on education, wellness, and
support of local culture.

Castiglione A Casauria Foundation / 600 Puuloa Road / Honolulu, HI 96819


Memorial Services

Thursday, February 1 | Hawaiian Memorial Park
45-425 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

10:30am-11am Family | 11am-12pm Open Visitation
12pm-1pm Service | 1pm-2:30pm Reception