Have you bought any gas lately?

[TomK]

On Friday, March 6th, 2026, I filled up the gas tank of my husbands F150 at the Kurtistown 7-11/Union 76/J. Hara. Gas was $4.899 per gallon.

Today, I filled up my car, same gas station, same gas type, even managed to get the same gas pump, and it is $5.329.

So in six days, the price is up 43 cents per gallon.

Now maybe, my information sources are insulating me from a great deal, not the least of which can explain a logical reason as to why this massive price increase just took place.

Anyone got any ideas?

How is this not trolling? I suspect everyone knows the answer to the question, but it can't be answered in a way that keeps it limited to Hawaii. There's a war in the Middle East that is affecting oil supplies and, therefore, prices to the rest of the world, including Hawaii, are rising. It's supply and demand.

[MyManao]

How is this not trolling?

Reminds me of another of those old Chinese proverbs..

If one doesn't have a life, one trolls.

[HiloJulie]

overall they're not getting us to nirvana. 

It took humans 40 plus years to wean themselves off feeding their mode of transportation with oats, to filling their mode of transportation with gasoline, and 20 of those 40 years, it was the same car built year after year.

The technological advancements are improving EV every year, but what would vastly expedite those advancements would be governmental and marketplace stability.

[TomK]

I have a suggestion!
Maybe we could provide something called “incentives” to encourage people to buy EV cars?  Kinda like the “subsidies” and “tax write offs” and “Intangible Drilling Costs” that the oil companies receive?  

Here in Hawaii with plentiful sunshine across much of the state, people could even charge their cars with electric from their own rooftops.

I drive rental EVs whenever I travel. Other than one particular model, which I was able to change, I've really enjoyed driving them. However, the places I have driven them had a decent network of charging points; the Big Island doesn't. Not everyone can charge an EV at home, so to encourage EV use, you'd think the state would incentivise fast-charging stations on the Big Island, but there aren't any. 

There seem to be maybe a couple of 50 kW charging stations available in East Hawaii, and these days, 50 kW isn't considered fast charging anymore. So right now, what's the benefit of an EV in Puna? The only thing I can think of is they are lot of fun to drive!

[ironyak]

MyManao - The notion that EVs are gonna save the day is a bit more hype than most, especially EV owners, would like to admit.
From: https://www.recurrentauto.com/research/j...is-your-ev

The big takeaway from that graphic is that most of an EV's emissions are from the generation of its fuel, namely electricity, so if we can decarbonize the electrical grid EVs would have a massive advantage over Internal Combustion Engines in terms of total emissions. But until Hawai'i gets off its addiction to using bunker fuel for most of its electrical generation, local EV owners tied to the grid are deluding themself somewhat about the environmental benefits.

However, some people, Punatics and other kine, can roll-their-own solution and install enough solar/wind to have excess capacity to charge their vehicles entirely off the grid. As solar panels are one of the rare few objects in all of human tech that actually create more energy than they took to produce, enough excess renewable energy can also create a positive feedback loop (using solar power to make more solar panels, to make more solar power...)

Given the perpetual geopolitical instability tied to the exploitation of fossil fuels, I personally think looking at other light-weight travel options are also worthwhile. Anyone have experience with utility/cargo grade ebikes on island, capable of handling non-conforming dirt "roads" and pulling a small trailer for making runs for water and resupplies from the local civilizational outpost?

[Durian Fiend]

...Anyone have experience with utility grade ebikes on island, capable of handling non-conforming dirt "roads" and pulling a small trailer for making runs for water and resupplies from the local civilizational outpost?

Sounds good in theory.  I'm personally more interested in this option than an EV.  However, given the congested traffic in Puna and the number of road accidents occurring here regularly, one would need a high tolerance for risk.

The bad roads aren't really an issue for the bike, only for rider comfort.

Edit: I don't believe the price of gas has risen so fast at most stations in Puna as it has in K town.

[MyManao]

The big takeaway from that graphic is that most of an EV's emissions are from the generation of its fuel, namely electricity, so if we can decarbonize the electrical grid EVs would have a massive advantage over Internal Combustion Engines in terms of total emissions. But until Hawai'i gets off the bunker fuel use for most of its electrical generation, local EV owners tied to the grid are deluding themself somewhat about the environmental benefits.

 
And that's the ticket.. exciting electrons without burning dinosaurs in the bargain. If only we had a way. And btw, this is the exact same reason I think solar aircraft (another thread hereabouts) is a bit too premature. The ultimate source of the energy involved.

And even though you go on to suggest solar is a good answer, it too has its environmental costs through its lifecycle. Both in the acquisition and manufacturing and in the disposable of its parts, and of course it is land hungry. Whereas I have always thought any commercial building done on island should be with the requirement that it is covered in solar collectors. That, at least, would help.

Although, in essence, I am more a geothermal kind of guy. In it's earlier iteration, ie before reinjection, I was wholly against geothermal as a toxic waste site in the making. But with the current model, as so successfully demonstrated by PGV, I am wholly for its use throughout the state. And with its wide adoption think we could be 100% renewable, and ready to scale up to any future need, in a matter of a few years. And wouldn't have to take the detour of, what I think will ultimately go the way of the four track tape player, wind and solar.

[leilanidude]

I completely agree that PGV with the re-injection method is the way for Hawaii to get cheaper energy. Wind and solar take up too much space for one issue for Hawaii.

However, take a look at this live dashboard of the main Texas grid and note the amount of wind and solar production. I find the numbers/percent of energy being provided by these to be amazing:

https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards

Right now, 70% of the main Texas grid is being supplied by wind and solar!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

But until Hawai'i gets off its addiction to using bunker fuel for most of its electrical generation

I don’t know the percentages, but HECO generates a larger amount of electricity from solar during the day time from commercial solar and rooftop net metering inputs.  HECO has a program that lowers your electric rate during daylight hours to encourage use of power from their solar inputs.  Of course for people who work by day and charge their car at night, they would need charging stations at work.


environmental costs through its lifecycle. Both in the acquisition and manufacturing and in the disposable of its parts

If you take into account drilling, pumping, shipping, and war, petroleum products have a pretty high total acquisition cost, and the disposal cost of CO2 emissions every time you drive, plus human life from the fighting over limited petroleum and its geographical location as part of the equation. As one writer put it  last week, solar travels 93 million miles and still doesn’t have to go through the Strait of Hormuz to get here.

Housing is already expensive in Hawaii, so rooftop solar isn’t for everyone.  There are however solar companies that install and own the panels on your roof and rent/sell the power generated back to you.

[randomq]

$5.32 at the Kurtistown 76 aka 7-11.
$4.99 at the Keaau Shell.
$4.89 at the Hilo Safeway.

This *is* a local issue because some companies are taking advantage, like Par Pacific, a Texas company that owns the Kurtistown 76 and doesn't mind fucking over rural Hawaii residents at every possible opportunity.

We need state (or maybe county?) government to go hard on solar and geothermal. Upgrade the grid to handle residential and business solar. Provide tax incentives to businesses that provide free solar charging for xx% of their employees/customers, and set that percentage to rise every year.. Solar panels are dirt cheap and have a 30 year lifespan. Charging stations wouldn't even require batteries, they can just charge when enough sun is available. Imagine the financial burden removed from everyone on our island once the investments are made. How much more resilient we'll be to influences from outside the state. We should be making these types of public investments in every area: electricity, automated farming, affordable apartments...

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FYI: https://www.parpacific.com/contact-us