The Maui County Council's Planning Committee will convene a panel at 9 a.m. Thursday to examine why Maui County has some of the nation's highest gas prices.

The committee also will consider two resolutions proposed by Councilman Michael Molina requesting that the state and federal governments take action to reduce the nation's gas prices and oil dependence.

Gas at some Central Maui stations is selling for $4.66 per gallon for the cheapest unleaded variety.

"We need to understand why we're facing these problems," said Committee Chairwoman Gladys Baisa in a statement. "Then we need to learn about short-term and long-term solutions that can be pursued by both the public and private sectors."

Panelists for Thursday's discussion include Alex de Roode of the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui; Kelly King of Pacific Biodiesel; county Transportation Director Don Medeiros; Lance Tanaka of Tesoro Hawaii; Joshua Wisch, representing U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono; and Stuart Zinner of the Hawaii PhotoVoltaics Coalition and Maui Community College.