HONOLULU (KHON2) — Our energy costs in Hawaii have been through the roof since the war in Ukraine started nearly a year ago. While prices have come back to Earth on the mainland, we’re still dropping first class coin for gas.
You may have seen national stories about how gas prices are back to their normal levels across the United States, in fact, they are. The national average is two cents below what they were on January 4th, 2022. Here on the islands, they’re still much pricier.
“Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country right now in terms of gas prices. And they tend to share that dubious honor with California,” AAA spokesperson Marie Montgomery said.
On Wednesday, according to AAA, the national average was $3.26. Hawaii’s average is $5.03, looking down at California’s $4.44.
Montgomery said that even though Hawaii is higher now, the islands have been more stable and paid less on average over the last year ($5.14) than the Golden State ($5.49).
Energy prices in Hawaii skyrocketed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which prompted Russian oil embargoes. Before the war, Russia provided about 25-30% of Hawaii’s oil.
“The overall supply situation as far as oil worldwide is really what’s going to dictate the price in Hawaii the most because that’s about half of the cost of a gallon of gasoline. So it’s a little uncertain, but we would think that it would be less drastic than last year just because of the surprise of the Ukrainian war and inflationary pressures,” Montgomery said. “So if those trends continue to hold then maybe gas prices oil prices stay low and gas prices can follow suit.”
Of course, there are ways to save like the tried and true method of managing correct tire pressure. Check the door jamb for the correct PSI and use a pressure gauge to check. There are plenty of other ways, like these tips from AAA.
“Each time I take a trip I try to do a combination of things to make the best of the trip,” Kaimuki resident Marie Montgomery said.
Montgomery recommends taking heavy items out of your car, like golf clubs or tools.
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“Gentle driving style is probably the number one thing you can do to maximize your gas mileage. I like to look at my real-time gas mileage on my odometer on my dashboard there because that really helps guide your driving and to maximize your fuel economy,” Montgomery said.
FAQs
Hawaii doesn't have a petroleum extraction industry so it has to import all of its crude oil to it's lone refinery. Other imports are finished products such as jet fuel and gasoline. Transportation costs add to the total cost as well as regulation and taxes so the cost of gas is higher in Hawaii.
What's the most expensive gas in the United States? ›
Hawaii has the most expensive gas in the U.S., followed by California and Washington. The cheapest gas prices are in Oklahoma and Gulf Coast states like Mississippi and Texas. Hawaii and California have the most expensive gas in the U.S., according to AAA.
Why is gas more expensive in California than Hawaii? ›
That's not an anomaly — Californians consistently pay more for gas than the rest of the country. A confluence of factors join together to increase the price of gas in The Golden State, including environmental restrictions, higher taxes and a shrinking number of regional refineries.
What is the real reason gas prices are so high in the US? ›
Gas prices are rising in part because of higher oil prices and greater demand for gas during the warmer months. Crude oil prices have crept up by more than $10 per barrel over the past few months. But recent surges have retreated slightly.
Does Hawaii have the most expensive gas? ›
A map of the United States showing the highest gas prices by state. Hawaii has the highest prices and Georgia has the lowest. Data as of May 24, 2023.
How much is a gallon of gas in Hawaii? ›
Hawaii average gas prices
| Regular | Mid-Grade |
|---|
| Current Avg. | $4.793 | $5.013 |
| Yesterday Avg. | $4.781 | $4.987 |
| Week Ago Avg. | $4.744 | $4.956 |
| Month Ago Avg. | $4.707 | $4.913 |
1 more rowSeptember 2023 Gasoline Price Updates
- Mississippi has the cheapest gasoline prices in the U.S., where the average cost is $3.29 per gallon. ...
- Louisiana has the second-cheapest gas, with the average cost hitting $3.36 per gallon.
- Coming in third place is Texas, with gas prices at $3.38 per gallon.
The highest average gas prices are in Hawaii ($4.68 per gallon), California ($4.62) and Washington ($4.04). Oklahoma has the lowest average gas price ($2.59 per gallon), ahead of Arkansas and Missouri (tied at $2.63). Average gas prices jumped the most between Jan. 11, 2023, and Jan.
Where is the most expensive gas in the world? ›
That may still feel like a lot for many consumers, but the pain at the pump is actually much worse in some other countries. Residents of Hong Kong pay the highest international gas prices, with 1 gallon setting them back $11.43.
What state has the most expensive gas right now? ›
Which State Has the Highest Gas Prices?
| State | Gas Price Today |
|---|
| 1 | California | $5.46 $5.46 $5.46 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $4.77 $4.77 $4.77 |
| 3 | Washington | $4.67 $4.67 $4.67 |
| 4 | Nevada | $4.65 $4.65 $4.65 |
1 more rowHawaii has no proved crude oil reserves or production, but it does refine crude oil into petroleum products. The state has one crude oil refinery, located in the Honolulu port area on Oahu, which can process about 94,000 barrels of crude oil per calendar day.
Why is Florida gas so expensive? ›
It's common for gas prices to rise in the spring for several reasons, Jenkins said: Fuel demand is higher in March because residents are sharing the road with spring breakers and winter residents, and the switch to a more expensive gasoline blend both contribute to high prices.
Who controls the gas prices in the United States? ›
Petroleum prices are determined by market forces of supply and demand, not individual companies, and the price of crude oil is the primary determinant of the price we pay at the pump.
Will drilling lower gas prices? ›
Myth: Drilling for more oil in the United States would lower high gas prices. Fact-check: Drilling for more oil in the United States will not lower gas prices because the production of U.S. oil does not set the price of gas—the global price of oil does.
What causes gas prices to go down? ›
“Demand is a lot less (in the) fall and winter.” On top of the seasonal cycle, inflation, while down from last year, is still high and continues to undercut Americans' spending habits — which could also be contributing to today's lower demand, De Haan added. Beyond demand, experts also point to declining oil costs.
Why is energy so expensive in Hawaii? ›
Hawaiian Electric said Hawaii's isolation is the main reason that electricity is so expensive. The ocean makes shipping oil to power Hawaii's plants extremely costly and officials added the price hit its peak after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Why is gas more expensive in the Pacific Northwest? ›
“Because of how mountainous the Pacific Northwest is, we only have supply lines that run north to south unlike states east of the Rockies, which have supply lines running every direction.” McAleenan explains why Washington's gas overcame California as the state with the highest fuel costs.
Why are gas prices so high in the Pacific Northwest? ›
Along with escalating crude oil costs, pumps are facing pressure from seasonal factors — refinery maintenance, the switch to summer gasoline and rising demand, according to GasBuddy, which tracks gas prices.
