You think gasoline is expensive in Hawaii?

Common thinking says that gasoline prices in Hawaii are outrageous. I don’t think so.

Relative to gasoline prices in Hawaii back in 1981, today’s prices, adjusted for inflation and average household income, are still lower than 25 years ago.

What is outrageous is the price of water, coffee, Kool-Aid, milk, wine, beer, Windex, and shoyu. Don’t get me started about the price per gallon of Starbuck’s or Jamba Juice. You don’t want to know.

Gasoline in hawaii is less than $3.50 a gallon, even while world oil prices hit $80 a barrel. Frankly, and comparatively speaking, that’s a bargain.

Tap water is cheap, but bottled water can easily top $10 a gallon. Kool-Aid with tap water is a bargain at $1.85 a gallon, and compares favorably with Coca-cola by the can. Coke and gasoline cost about the same, per gallon.

What about wine? You get what you pay for, but it’s difficult to find wine for less than $10 a gallon, and you’re not likely to enjoy it as much as the outrageously expensive $50 or $100 a gallon flavors.

Beer is over $10 a gallon, too, even when on sale at Wal-Mart or Costco or wherever beer goes on sale. Windex can be over $10 a gallon unless you catch it on sale at Long’s. Hershey’s chocolate syrup tops $10 a gallon even when it’s sale priced.

Kikkoman shoyu tops $10 a gallon but looks like a value when compared to Head and Shoulders shampoo which is over $30 a gallon. Liquid Paper? $200 a gallon. Vanilla extract? Over $100 a gallon.

No more complaining about the cost of gasoline in Hawaii. It’s a bargain.