The price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in West Hawaii showed little fluctuation this week, an analysis of GasBuddy.com and AAA data shows.
In West Hawaii, excluding the Waikoloa resort area, a gallon of gas averaged $3.44 between Monday (March 23) and Friday (March 27), according to a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas. That was unchanged from the week before.
Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are normally higher, motorists this week doled out on average $3.49, also unchanged from the average price between March 16 and March 20, according to GasBuddy.com data.
In Kailua-Kona, gas stations were charging an average $3.35 per gallon, down just two cents from the week prior. The price of gas in the urban Kona area reached a low of $3.27 in mid-February and has slowly been climbing since. At the Kailua-Kona Costco, where membership is required, a gallon of gas averaged at $2.96 this week. On Friday afternoon, the price there was $2.97, up four cents from Monday.
Drivers filling up in Waimea spent on average $3.51 per gallon while the same gallon of gas averaged $3.52 in Waikoloa Village. Filling up in the resort area of Waikoloa resort cost drivers an average of $3.69 per gallon this week. All prices in South Kohala have gone unchanged for the past several weeks.
In Kealakekua, motorists doled out $3.36 per gallon this week, unchanged from last week.
Hilo drivers spent $3.11 per gallon for the same gallon of gas, up one cent from the week prior, according to GasBuddy.com data. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report put the average price of gas at $3.13 per gallon during the week, unchanged from the week prior. AAA does not track gas prices for any other area on the Big Island.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel rose slightly to $3.15, according to AAA. One year ago, Hawaii residents were paying $4.21 per gallon.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas averaged $3.05 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid two cents more than last week at $3.23 per gallon, according to AAA.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week was unchanged at $2.42.
For the fourth consecutive week, California residents continued to pay the most for gas at $3.25 per gallon, down from $3.33. South Carolina drivers continued to pay the least at the pump this week at $2.11 per gallon.
“Around the country average gas prices have stalled or seen some price declines. California remains the only other state with a gas price average higher than $3, with an average price of $3.23. A few other states are in the high $2 a gallon range like Alaska at $2.91, Nevada at $2.81, and Oregon at $2.77,” said AAA Hawaii General Manager Liane Sumida on Thursday.