Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the United States — but it's also one of the most expensive places to fill up your gas tank. As of June 2026, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Hawaii is $5.21 per gallon, making it the second most expensive state in the nation behind only California. If you live in Hawaii or are planning a visit, here's everything you need to know about why gas is so expensive and how to save money at the pump.
Hawaii average: $5.21/gallon · National average: $4.44/gallon · You pay extra: +$0.77/gallon · Rank: #2 most expensive state · Source: EIA.gov
Why is Gas So Expensive in Hawaii?
1. Everything Must Be Shipped by Ocean
This is the single biggest reason Hawaii gas is so expensive. Hawaii is located over 2,400 miles from the US mainland — the most geographically isolated state in the country. Every drop of gasoline used in Hawaii must be either refined locally or shipped across the Pacific Ocean on fuel tankers. Ocean shipping is expensive, and those costs are passed directly to drivers at the pump.
Compare this to a state like Texas, where gas travels just a few miles from the refinery to the gas station. In Hawaii, that same journey involves thousands of miles of ocean shipping — dramatically increasing the cost of every gallon.
2. Hawaii Has Its Own State Fuel Tax
Hawaii charges a state fuel tax of approximately 17 cents per gallon — which is actually lower than many mainland states. However, Hawaii also charges a barrel tax on every barrel of petroleum products imported into the state, adding an additional layer of cost. Combined with county fuel taxes in places like Honolulu, the total tax burden on Hawaii gasoline is significant.
3. Limited Refinery Capacity
Hawaii has only one oil refinery — the Par Hawaii refinery in Kapolei on Oahu. This single facility processes crude oil into gasoline for the entire state. Having only one refinery means there is very limited competition in fuel production, and any disruption to that refinery — maintenance, technical issues, or emergency shutdowns — can cause immediate price spikes across all the islands.
4. Each Island Has Its Own Distribution System
Hawaii is made up of multiple islands — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (the Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. After gasoline is refined or imported, it must be distributed to each island separately by inter-island barge. This additional layer of distribution adds more cost to each gallon before it ever reaches a gas station.
5. Environmental Regulations
Like California, Hawaii has strict environmental regulations for fuel quality. Hawaii requires cleaner-burning gasoline formulations to protect its fragile island ecosystem, which costs more to produce than standard mainland fuel blends.
Gas Prices by Island — Hawaii 2026
Gas prices vary across Hawaii's different islands:
Oahu tends to have the cheapest gas because it is the most populated island and has the most gas stations and competition. The outer islands — especially Kauai — have higher prices due to their remoteness and smaller number of fuel retailers.
Hawaii vs Other US States — Gas Price Comparison
| State | Regular Price | vs Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| California | $5.97 | +$0.76 |
| Hawaii | $5.21 | — |
| Washington | $4.72 | -$0.49 |
| National Average | $4.44 | -$0.77 |
| Florida | $3.29 | -$1.92 |
| Texas | $2.97 | -$2.24 |
| Louisiana | $2.72 | -$2.49 |
A Hawaii driver filling a 12-gallon tank pays about $62.52 per fill-up. The same fill-up in Louisiana costs just $32.64 — a difference of nearly $30 every time you fill up. For a Hawaii resident who fills up once a week, that's over $1,500 more per year compared to living in Louisiana.
Tips to Save Money on Gas in Hawaii
- Fill up on Oahu — If you're island-hopping, Oahu consistently has the lowest prices. Fill up before your inter-island trip.
- Use Costco in Kapolei (Oahu) — Costco's gas station in Kapolei is consistently the cheapest in Hawaii, often 20-30 cents below the island average.
- Use GasBuddy app — GasBuddy tracks real-time prices at stations across Hawaii and helps you find the cheapest option near you.
- Consider an electric or hybrid vehicle — Hawaii has excellent solar power infrastructure and EV charging stations. Electric vehicles make more financial sense in Hawaii than almost anywhere else in the US due to high gas prices.
- Avoid tourist areas — Gas stations near Waikiki, Lahaina, and other tourist spots often charge a premium. Drive a little further from the main tourist strip to find better prices.
- Buy a gas rewards credit card — Cards with 3-5% cash back on gas can save you $150-200 per year in Hawaii given how much you pay per gallon.
Hawaii has some of the best conditions for electric vehicles in the US — mild weather, abundant solar energy, and short driving distances on each island. With gas at $5.21/gallon, switching to an EV could save Hawaii residents $2,000-3,000 per year on fuel costs alone.
Will Hawaii Gas Prices Ever Come Down?
The structural factors that make Hawaii gas expensive — ocean shipping, island distribution, limited refinery capacity — are unlikely to change significantly. As long as Hawaii remains isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, gas will always cost significantly more than on the mainland.
The best long-term solution for Hawaii residents is the transition to electric vehicles. As EVs become more affordable and Hawaii's renewable energy grid continues to grow, the financial pain of high gas prices will gradually become less relevant for Hawaii drivers.
For the latest current Hawaii gas prices updated every Monday, check our live gas price tracker powered by official EIA.gov data.