Gas prices in West Hawaii inched up 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 $3.45 between Monday (April 27) and Friday (May 1), according to a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas. That’s up two cents from the week prior.
Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are higher, motorists this week spent on average $3.50, also up two cents from the week before, according to GasBuddy.com data.
At Kailua-Kona gas stations, motorists spent an average $3.36 per gallon. 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 increased to $3.06, up from $3.02 last week. On Friday, gasoline at Costco cost $3.09, up seven cents from Monday.
Drivers fueling up in Waimea paid an average of $3.55 per gallon while the same gallon of gas averaged $3.54 in Waikoloa Village. Filling up in the resort area of Waikoloa resort cost drivers an average of $3.69 per gallon this week.
In Kealakekua, motorists spent $3.35 per gallon this week, which was up just a penny from last week.
Hilo drivers spent $3.08 per gallon for the same gallon of gas, according to GasBuddy.com data. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report put the average price of gas at $3.08 per gallon this week. AAA does not track gas prices for the Kona area.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel was $3.12, up a nickel from the week prior, according to the AAA data. One year ago, Hawaii residents were spending $4.38 per gallon.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas during the week averaged $3.01 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid $3.25, according to AAA.
“While prices have ticked up, they’re still much lower than last year. AAA estimates that U.S. households have spent about $400 less on gasoline, due to lower prices so far this year, in comparison to the same period in 2014,” said AAA Hawaii General Manager Liane Sumida.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week was $2.57, up nine cents from last Friday. Gas prices nationwide hit a low of $2.03 on Jan. 26. The national average has increased 16 days in a row for a total of 19 cents per gallon.
California residents this week continued to pay the most for gas. Motorists in the Golden State paid an average of $3.49 per gallon. South Carolina drivers paid the least this week at $2.29 per gallon.
“Gas prices have climbed to the highest levels of the year due largely to rising crude oil costs,” said AAA Director of Federal Relations Avery Ash. “As prices keep climbing, it getting more difficult to believe that gas was below $2 per gallon at the majority of stations earlier this year.”