The average Hawaii driver will pay $12.48 more at the pump in March 2023 than they did in March 2022, according to an analysis of gas prices from the AAA motor club and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) data by Aloha State News.
Hawaii drivers will pay an average of $4.88 per gallon of regular gasoline this month versus $4.57 last year. This is a 6.8 percent increase equaling $0.31 per gallon.
Of the five Hawaii metropolitan areas analyzed, drivers in Lihue (Kauai) faced the largest price hike at the pump in the last year of $20.12. Wailuku was spared the worst pain, with the price of gas rising $7.12 from March 2022 to March 2023.
Gas prices across the US hit a seven-year high following a significant drop at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The price of gas, derived from the cost of oil manufactured around the world, has the power to substantially change the free market and influence many industries.
A short-term outlook report from the US Energy Information Administration predicted gas rates would fall throughout 2022. This was incorrect, though the Administration made the same forecast for 2023.
Hawaii drivers average 974 miles and use 40.2 gallons of gasoline per month, according to the FHA.
| Market | 2023 | 2022 | CHG | % | Total increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lihue (Kauai) | $5.31 | $4.81 | $0.50 | 10.4% | $20.12 |
| Honolulu | $4.79 | $4.47 | $0.32 | 7.1% | $12.72 |
| Hilo | $4.86 | $4.57 | $0.29 | 6.4% | $11.83 |
| Kahului | $4.90 | $4.72 | $0.18 | 3.7% | $7.12 |
| Wailuku | $4.90 | $4.72 | $0.18 | 3.7% | $7.12 |
