LIHU‘E — Gas prices on Kaua‘i are still higher than average Mainland prices, but there has been a dip in cost over the past month — particularly due to recent drops in the price of crude oil.
Friday, AAA reported the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded was $1.78. Average prices in Hawai‘i were $3.22 a gallon. That is 21 cents lower than last month’s recorded average for Hawai‘i.
An average of six fuel-station prices for regular unleaded shows Kaua‘i prices are at about $3.26 per gallon. The outlier gas station is Costco, which requires a membership and almost always has the lowest prices on the island. Friday, Costco was retailing regular unleaded fuel at $2.55 per gallon.
The drop in Hawai‘i fuel prices, while it’s not as dramatic as in other states, follows international trends in the oil industry.
Monday, Associated Press reported the price of a barrel of U.S. oil set to be delivered next month dropped below zero, and crude-oil prices hovered at an all-time low throughout the week. Associated Press reported U.S. benchmark crude oil was trading as low as $6.50 a barrel on Tuesday — 80% lower than at the start of the year.
Thomas Ryan from Kalaheo was filling up his tank in at Paradise 76 in Lihu‘e, where gas was retailing at $3.47 for regular unleaded, and said he’d like to see Kaua‘i prices dip a little lower, especially with news that crude oil prices have hovered at all-time lows all week.
“I think (Kaua‘i prices are) crazy, because I know what the average for a barrel is,” Ryan said. “We really gotta get the prices down, get it under control.”
Elsewhere on the island, Shell in Kapa‘a was selling regular unleaded at $3.55 a gallon, and the Shell station in Kilauea was retailing regular unleaded at $3.57.
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Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com. Associated Press contributed to this story.
We are getting ripped off!
Anyone with 2 active brain cells can figure out that price fixing is alive and well on our island. On the mainland the price differential between Costco and mainstream gas stations averages between 10-15 cents. On Kauai it’s $1.00. Since Costco’s profit margins on gasoline are consistent and Costco buys gasoline from the same distributors as the gas stations it’s clear to me that price collusion by the gas stations here should be investigated and held accountable. As Douglas aptly put it, “We are getting ripped off!”.
Having lower gas prices during stay at home orders is like giving a bald guy a free comb, just saying…LOL