Hawaii Gas Cap Running on Fumes

HONOLULU – Gas prices keep going up everywhere, and Hawaii’s unique attempt to control them is running on fumes.

The isolated island state whose drivers consistently pay the highest pump prices in the nation has given up on its government-regulated price controls after an eight-month experiment.

With the average price for regular in Hawaii rising above $3.38 per gallon Friday, Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law a suspension of the cap that sought to keep the oil companies in check and give a fair price to customers.

Bad timing with rising oil prices, outrage among island motorists, industry lobbying and public pressure in an election year combined to scuttle the nation’s only state attempt to cap the cost of fuel.

AP