Maui Gas Prices Rise Slightly

By Maui Now Staff

Wailuku’s gas price during the past week averaged $3.36 per gallon–up 2 cents from last week, 13 cents more than on this date last month, $1.11 less than on this date last year, but still far below the all-time high of $4.98 per gallon reported four years ago on May 9, 2011.

The state’s average for a gallon of regular is $3.23, two cents more than last week, 14 cents more than last month and $1.14 a gallon lower than a year ago.

The state’s gas price averages saw increases during the past week in some areas, but local motorists may take brief solace in the fact that currently, Hawaiʻi average prices are lower than the average Southern California prices, according to the AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch.

On the Mainland, the average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles area is $3.99 a gallon. In San Diego, the average price is $3.95. On California’s central coast–Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc–the average price is $3.90.

“At this time, Southern California average prices that are higher than Hawaiʻi average prices due to their unique refinery production  issues that hiked their wholesale prices by nearly 30 cents over last weekend,”  according to AAA Hawaiʻi General Manager Liane Sumida. “That translated to an increase of more than 17 cents a gallon more in Los Angeles than last Thursday. The Islands and West Coast continue to experience the highest prices for retail gasoline and California ($3.79) remains the nation’s most expensive market. Three other states post averages above $3 per gallon: Alaska ($3.19), Nevada ($3.25) and Oregon ($3.01).”

Honolulu’s average gas price is $3.15, two cents more that last Thursday’s price, 19 cents higher than last month’s and $1.19 a gallon less than a year ago.

In Hilo, the average gas price is $3.16 per gallon, a penny less than last week, four cents more than last month and $1.04 less than this time a year ago.

AAA Hawaiʻi Weekend Gas Watch are offered as a community service. Prices are derived from fleet vehicle credit card transactions at more than 120,000 stations around the country. Prices shown are combined averages of last card swipe of previous day.