Gas prices in West Hawaii increased slightly this week, an analysis of GasBuddy.com and AAA data shows.
Motorists fueling up in Kailua-Kona spent an average of $3.43 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, unchanged from last week, according to the GasBuddy.com data. However, the average price of a gallon of gas in the urban Kona area on Friday ticked up to $3.44 per gallon.
At the Kailua-Kona Costco, where membership is required, a gallon of gas increased to $3.19, up a penny from last week, the data showed.
Drivers in South Kohala also saw the price of a gallon of gas increase this week. In Waimea, motorists paid an average of $3.62 per gallon, up one cent from the week prior. The same gallon of gas averaged $3.64 in Waikoloa Village. Filling up in the resort area of Waikoloa resort cost drivers an average of $3.79 per gallon this week.
In Kealakekua, motorists spent $3.43 per gallon this week.
Based on those locations, the per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in West Hawaii — excluding the Waikoloa resort area — averaged $3.53 between Monday (May 25) and Friday (May 29), according to a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas. That’s up one cent from the week prior.
Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are regularly higher, motorists this week spent on average $3.58, also up one cent, according to GasBuddy.com data.
Hilo drivers spent $3.19 per gallon, up three cents from last week, according to GasBuddy.com data. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report put the average price of gas at $3.19 per gallon this week, up a penny from the week before. AAA does not track gas prices for other areas on the Big Island.
The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel was $3.29, up from $3.26 last week, according to the AAA data. One year ago, Hawaii residents were spending $4.36 per gallon.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas during the week averaged $3.23 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid $3.39, according to AAA.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week was $2.74. California residents continue the most for gas at an average of $3.75 per gallon. South Carolina drivers paid the least this week at $2.44 per gallon.
AAA said pump prices have trended higher because of an increase in the price of global crude and localized refinery issues, particularly in the Midwest and on the West Coast.