A nearly two-month downward trend in West Hawaii’s gasoline prices appears to have come to an end this week, an analysis of AAA and GasBuddy.com data shows. ADVERTISING A nearly two-month downward trend in West Hawaii’s gasoline prices appears to
A nearly two-month downward trend in West Hawaii’s gasoline prices appears to have come to an end this week, an analysis of AAA and GasBuddy.com data shows.
The price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in West Hawaii — excluding the Waikoloa resort area — averaged $3.35 between Monday (Feb. 23) and Friday (Feb. 27), according to a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas. At the start of 2015, that gallon of regular unleaded fuel averaged $3.82.
Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are traditionally higher, motorists this week spent on average $3.39, unchanged from the week before, according to GasBuddy.com data.
At Kailua-Kona gas stations, motorists spent an average $3.28 per gallon, up one cent from the week prior, according to GasBuddy.com data. On Jan. 2, motorists were paying an average of $3.72 per gallon, according to the data.
At the Kailua-Kona Costco, where membership is required, a gallon of gas was $2.99 this week, up from a low of $2.55 in late January and early February.
Drivers filling up in Waimea paid an average of $3.41 per gallon while the same gallon of gas averaged $3.42 in Waikoloa Village. Filling up in the resort area of Waikoloa resort cost drivers an average of $3.59 per gallon this week. All prices were unchanged from the week prior.
In Kealakekua, motorists doled out $3.27 per gallon this week, which was also unchanged from the week prior.
Hilo drivers spent $2.97 per gallon for the same gallon of gas, according to GasBuddy.com data. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, however, put the average price of gas at $3 per gallon this week.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel was $3.04, up one cent from the week prior, according to AAA. One year ago, Hawaii residents were spending $4.06 for the same gallon of gasoline.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas averaged $2.96 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid $3.12, according to AAA. Honolulu price is up three cents from the week prior while Wailuku’s price remained unchanged.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week reached $2.33, up from a low of $2.03 on Jan. 26. On Friday, the national average was $2.37 per gallon.
Unlike has been the case for the past couple of months, Hawaii did not pay the most per gallon of gasoline in the U.S. this week. California saw its average price for a gallon of gas jump from $2.95 on Monday to $3.23 by Friday — 19 cents more per gallon than Hawaii.
AAA attributed the nationwide increase in prices to refineries in the midst of conducting seasonal maintenance, a process that can limit fuel production and contribute to rising pump prices. It also noted the potential for unexpected refinery problems that can cause price spikes, such as an explosion last week at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, Calif., that pushed up prices in the state, and cold weather in the Northeast and Midwest that prompted a number of refinery problems in those regions.
However, ample domestic supply is expected to keep a ceiling on prices, though there is a good chance that prices will continue to rise this spring, AAA forecast.
Utah and Idaho continued to pay the least this week with prices ranging from $1.95 to $2.01 per gallon.
