Kailua-Kona Fuel Average Cracks, Hilo Fuel Fluctuates

Fluctuations across the board were noted in this week’s fuel watch for Hilo, while Kailua-Kona fuel prices finally saw a break in an average that has been frozen for weeks.

Using numbers from AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, along with Gas Buddy Data, Big Island Now continues to track fuel prices on the Big Island.

On Monday, regular fuel in Hilo held onto its average from last week at $2.55. Mid-grade fuel decreased by four cents to $2.66, while premium fuel was up one cent to $2.77.

One month ago, regular fuel in Hilo was the exact same average as it currently is, however, between weeks the average has fluctuated. Mid-grade fuel is up by two cents, compared to one month ago, as premium fuel averages are down by one cent.

Hilo’s average fuel prices compared to the same week in 2015 are lower by over $0.50 in each category. At this point last year, regular fuel in Hilo cost $0.56 more at an average of $3.11. Mid-grade fuel cost an average of $0.54 more at $3.20. Premium gas cost $0.61 more on average last year at $3.32.

While regular and premium fuel prices haven’t budged in Kailua-Kona, the fuel average for mid-grade fuel increased in average by one penny today.

Big Island Now’s calculation of Gas Buddy data from Kailua-Kona shows that regular fuel has held onto its average of $2.79 for two straight months. Mid-grade fuel saw movement, up one cent to a $2.90 average. Premium fuel hung tight at an average of $2.98 on Monday. The fuel averages in Kona have continued through the month of March the same way they were locked in for nearly the entire month of February.

In Honolulu, the average price of regular fuel was $0.21 lower than in Hilo. Fuel averages were $0.45 lower in Honolulu than in Kona. Honolulu fuel purchasers were paying an average of $2.34 on Monday, an increase of two cents in the past week.

Diesel fuel in Hilo is averaging $4.02, the same as last week’s average. Honolulu diesel buyers were paying an average of $4.01, three cents less than last week.

The national average for regular fuel on Monday was $1.98, jumping five cents compared to last week. Still, the national average was $0.57 less than Hilo’s average this week and $0.81 less than Kailua-Kona’s average prices.

Club member-only prices, such as Costco and HFN, are excluded from this analysis and its averages.