Gas prices top $4 in Honolulu, up on Maui and Big Island

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Retail gas prices increased throughout most of the Aloha State, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

The Hawaii state average for regular unleaded has risen to $4.08 per gallon, which was four cents more than last week, 11 cents more than last month and two cents higher than last year.

Honolulu's average price now tops $4 a gallon again with a four-cent boost from last week to $4.02 a gallon for regular unleaded – up 12 cents from last month and up 10 cents from a year ago.

In Hilo, the average gas price ticked up to $4.09 per gallon, an increase of three cents from last week, nine cents more than last month and 16 cents less than this time last year.

Wailuku's average is $4.07 a gallon, up three cents from last week, six cents more than last month and 30 cents lower than last year.

"Although prices are up this week, a silver lining in Hilo and Wailuku is that pump prices are less this week than at this time a year ago," according to AAA Hawaii Regional Branch Manager Liane Sumida. "A big factor in what retail gas prices could be during 2013 will be the strength of the economy. A better economy usually indicates rising prices, while a weakening economy usually displays lower prices."