A year ago, with gas prices over $4 a gallon, Americans stopped buying monster SUVs or trucks and created a waiting list for fuel-efficient hybrids like the Toyota Prius. Last March, hybrid sales fell sharply as gas prices slipped below $2 a gallon nationwide.

We all know that gas prices are fluctuating, with rapid increases in the past few months. Regular gas now sells for more than $3 a gallon. The current price of oil (roughly $70 a barrel) is twice what it was in February, but half what it was in July 2008.

Some believe that consumers will remain "green" only if energy prices stay high; they propose a flexible "green" tax to fix prices at a higher level. In theory, a predictable higher price for gasoline would send a stronger signal to consumers to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles. Hawai'i is especially sensitive to oil prices as we are the most oil-dependent state.

About 90 percent of our energy needs are satisfied by petroleum. Aviation, electricity and ground transportation each consumes roughly equal portions of crude and refined petroleum. However, their shares are shifting, with petroleum used for airplanes and electric utilities falling and that used by motor vehicles growing. Motor vehicle numbers have risen over the past 10 years due to population and economic growth. In 2007, 1.1 million vehicles — nearly 1.3 vehicles for every eligible driver — were registered in Hawai'i.

In 2007, the state Legislature approved Act 254, tasking the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum with developing energy-efficient transportation strategies. HEPF is a partnership of businesses, environmentalists, energy experts and state government agencies. Its aim is to encourage greater dialogue on energy issues in Hawai'i and offer a vision of an energy-efficient transportation system with flexible options, including mass transit, private and public vehicles.

The good news is that companies such as Better Place, Phoenix Motorcars and Coulomb Technologies propose to introduce electric vehicles and establish infrastructure to test EV technology in Hawai'i. The governor recently signed into law SB 1202, which will require 1 percent of parking spaces in most public lots to be reserved for electric vehicles by the end of 2011. These actions will further the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative to decrease energy demand and accelerate renewable energy use.

But we have a way to go to reduce our use of fossil fuels for transportation — and, it is hoped, reduce traffic congestion and travel time. What can we do as a community to further our vision of a clean and energy-efficient transportation system for Hawai'i? We need citizens to weigh in on this question and we need to take bold actions on many fronts. But which actions? The Federal Highway Administration and Hawai'i Department of Transportation have provided funds for a telephone and online survey of consumer preferences. Each survey is asking the same questions, including: