Gas prices in West Hawaii increased this week, an analysis of GasBuddy.com and AAA data shows.
Motorists fueling up on the leeward side of the Big Island — excluding the Waikoloa resort area — spent an average of $3.56 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline between Monday (June 1) and Friday (June 5), an analysis of a week’s worth of GasBuddy.com data from the Kailua-Kona, Waimea, Kealakekua and Waikoloa areas shows. Including the Waikoloa resort area, where prices are higher, motorists this week spent on average $3.60. Both prices are up three cents from last week and 20 cents from mid-February.
In Kailua-Kona, drivers doled out an average of $3.47 per gallon, up four cents from last week, according to the GasBuddy.com data. At the Kailua-Kona Costco, where membership is required, a gallon was $3.19 per gallon the entire week.
In Kealakekua, motorists spent $3.44 per gallon this week, according to the data.
Drivers in Waimea paid an average of $3.65 per gallon while the same gallon of gas averaged $3.66 in Waikoloa Village. Filling up in the resort area of Waikoloa resort set drivers back an average of $3.79 per gallon this week.
Hilo drivers spent $3.22 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 $3.25 per gallon this week, up six cents 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 $3.30 according to the AAA data. One year ago, Hawaii residents were spending $4.37 per gallon.
In Honolulu, a gallon of gas during the week averaged $3.24 per gallon while the Wailuku area of Maui paid $3.40, according to AAA.
Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline this week was $2.72. California residents continued to pay the highest rate for gas at an average of $3.67 per gallon. South Carolina drivers paid the least this week at $2.46 per gallon.
AAA said this week that there is a good chance that average U.S. gas prices will drop soon because of stabilizing crude oil costs and completion of seasonal maintenance at refineries. AAA forecast drivers will see the cheapest summertime gas prices since 2009.
“This could be the year of the summer road trip with lower gas prices motivating millions of people to travel,” said Avery Ash, AAA spokesman. “Many drivers are likely to save hundreds of dollars this summer as gas prices remain more affordable than in recent years.”