HILO — Despite low gas prices around the country, Hawaii drivers are paying a little more to fill up compared to this time last year.
“Unexpected outages” at an oil refinery in California have caused gas prices in Hilo and around the state to temporarily increase, Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, said Monday.
A gallon of regular gas in Hilo averaged $3 on Monday, up from $2.90 a year ago, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.
The report doesn’t track Kailua-Kona prices, though several West Hawaii stations posted prices between $3.18 to $3.19 Monday, according to GasBuddy. Statewide, the average price was $3.05, up from $2.80 a year ago.
Drivers nationally were paying an average of $2.26 on Monday, one of the lowest June averages in about 12 years. Gas prices generally increase in the summer months due to higher demand, as well as a switch from winter-grade to summer-grade fuel, which is more expensive to produce.
“Whenever there’s a refinery problem … it affects the entire region,” DeHaan said. “That’s led gas prices in Hawaii to be a little higher than other places. The good news is the refinery issues have been dealt with, but unfortunately it does take time for gas prices to resemble what you consider normal.”
The price uptick hasn’t gone unnoticed by Mountain View resident Tommy Young, who said Monday spending more on fuel generally means less driving.
“They’re a little high,” Young said of the current gas prices as he fueled up at the newly re-branded Texaco station near Kawailani Street. “I’m hoping and wishing they go down. I live in Mountain View, and when prices are high, you don’t come into town as often. You try to conserve.”
Hawaii drivers could still be getting a deal. In January, a few months after OPEC announced plans to cut oil production, DeHaan had predicted gas costs could hit $3.50 per gallon in Hawaii and reach three-year highs nationally.
Oil prices have since dropped, however. DeHaan said Monday if “nothing else flares up,” Hawaii drivers can expect a gradual gas price drop in the coming weeks.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
