Hawaii Gas Prices Up To $4.24 A Gallon

By Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Coming as no surprise to most Hawaii drivers, gasoline prices rose again this week to a statewide average of $4.24 for a gallon of regular unleaded, according to AAA Hawaii’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The statewide price is 2 cents higher than last week and 15 cents higher than a month ago, despite falling Texas crude oil prices that have pushed down gas prices on the Mainland, AAA Hawaii Regional Manager Diane Peterson said in a statement.

“But Hawaii prices are being driven by higher-priced crude — more than $100 a barrel — derived from Southeast Asia,” Peterson said. “Hawaii refiners compete for the same oil with Japan, which has been buying more to fuel power plants, post-tsunami.”

Hilo saw the highest one-week increase, with the price of a gallon of unleaded rising 4 cents to $4.35, which was 22 cents higher than a month ago and 99 cents higher than a year ago.

The average gas price in Honolulu was $4.13 a gallon, a penny higher than last week, but 16 cents more than a month ago and 84 cents higher than a year ago.

The highest gas prices in Hawaii are still on Maui, where the average price of a gallon of unleaded in Wailuku this week was $4.43, a 4-cent increase from last week, 8 cents higher than a month ago and 64 cents more than a year ago.

Copyright 2011 American City Business Journals

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