New vehicle registrations through May in Hawaii shot up 17.8 percent compared with the same period last year, according to a new report.

Hawaii Auto Outlook reports that the national increase was 8.4 percent.

The report attributes the rise in Hawaii new vehicle sales to pent-up demand resulting from the long economic recession that also caused the consumer vehicle fleet to age, as well as other factors.

Hawaii Auto Outlook, from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, projects new vehicle registrations to finish the year 13.3 percent above the 37,086 sold in the retail market in 2011.