Gas prices are ticking up in West Hawaii, 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 $3.38 between Monday (March 2) and Friday (March 6), according to a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas. That’s up three cents from the week prior.
Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are traditionally higher, motorists this week spent on average $3.42, also up three cents from the week before, according to GasBuddy.com data.
At Kailua-Kona gas stations, motorists spent an average $3.30 per gallon. On Jan. 2, motorists were paying an average of $3.72 per gallon, according to the data. Gas prices in Kailua-Kona reached a low of $3.27 in mid-February.
At the Kailua-Kona Costco, where membership is required, a gallon of gas held steady at $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 $3.46 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.
In Kealakekua, motorists spent $3.31 per gallon this week, up four cents from last week.
Hilo drivers spent $2.99 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 $3.02 per gallon this week.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel was $3.08, up four cents from the week prior, according to AAA. One year ago, Hawaii residents were spending an additional dollar per gallon at $4.11.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas averaged $2.99 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid $3.16, according to AAA. Honolulu’s price is up just three cents from the week prior while Wailuku’s price jumped by four cents.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week reached $2.45, up from a low of $2.03 on Jan. 26. On Friday, the national average was $2.46 per gallon.
Once again, 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 reach $3.42 this week.
Utah and Wyoming drivers paid the least this week with prices ranging from $2.05 to $2.15 per gallon.
AAA said this week that gas prices could rise an additional 20 cents per gallon by the end of March as refineries continue seasonal maintenance. Despite the expected increase, most regions should see prices remain much lower compared to recent years due to cheaper crude oil costs and above-average gasoline supplies, AAA said.
“Gas prices likely will rise higher in March as refineries conduct seasonal maintenance,” Avery Ash, AAA spokesman, said in a prepared statement. “The good news is that most U.S. drivers should still pay less than $3 per gallon to fill up their cars this year.”