Hawai'i drivers have eased off the gas pedal, with gasoline consumption falling in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2008.

Figures from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's monthly energy report show demand for gasoline fell by 7.7 percent during the first half of the year.

Gasoline use has been falling since last year both locally and nationally for a variety of reasons, according to experts. While some of this is linked to the dramatic jump in prices last year — a record for Hawai'i was set on July 31, 2008, at $4.507 a gallon — the economy, hybrid cars and less visitors are also said to contribute to lower consumption.

Moreover, it appears drivers will continue to take the slow lane until the economy recovers.

"I do believe people are a little bit more careful with their driving habits," said Barney Robinson, owner of Chevron stations near Honolulu Airport and in Kahala, explaining a change in people's habits is one reason.

"They're not jumping into their cars and driving."

Robinson said his airport location caters to a lot of construction workers and visitors, while his Kahala station has more residential customers. At the airport he's noticed less construction trucks and workers, less rental cars and less traffic from folks who work in the visitor industry.

At Kahala he's noticed more people are driving hybrid vehicles that get better gas mileage.

Figures from the Energy Trend report show gasoline use down on all islands. It shows:

• O'ahu gasoline demand was down 9.2 percent in the first six months.

• Maui County fell 6.1 percent.

• Kaua'i was off 9.5 percent.

• Hawai'i County had the smallest decline at 2.5 percent.

• Diesel fuel declined 17 percent statewide.

• The number of registered gasoline vehicles in the state in August was off 2.8 percent to 925,532 compared with a year earlier.

Gasoline prices are one reason for drivers changing behaviors, such as driving slower or combining trips. But it's difficult to know if people have permanently changed their habits.

In Honolulu, the price for a gallon of regular was $3.221 Friday, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge report. That's up from the low $2 range earlier this year when crude oil prices were lower.

Jeff Spring, a spokesman for AAA of Hawai'i, said he believes people are changing as well as buying more fuel- efficient cars.

"The run-up last year really set people back on their heals," Spring said. "People are being smarter about their driving."

They also may be taking mass transit. In the year ended June 30, ridership on TheBus totaled 77.4 million riders, or about 10 percent more than a year earlier.

"Last year was a banner year for us," said J. Roger Morton, president of Oahu Transit Services, operator of TheBus. He said currently the bus is experiencing a 2 to 3 percent decline in ridership when comparing months to a year earlier.

Morton said it's difficult to give an interpretation of the numbers in relation to gasoline demand and driving. TheBus in July raised its one-way adult fare by 25 cents to $2.25, while the monthly bus pass went to $50 from $40.

He said a number of factors enter the picture when talking about bus passengers, including whether a decline in tourism counts is affecting ridership (tourists are believed to make up 9 percent of riders) and whether higher unemployment means fewer folks are riding to work.

The same complexity probably applies to driving.

"It's very difficult to ascribe it to gas prices or to any one item at all," Morton said.

"Even if everyone drives the same, we are driving more fuel-efficient vehicles."

Robinson said there has been an increase in the number of people complaining about gas prices, something that started around the end of June when a gallon of regular hit $3 in Honolulu.

"When it was under $3 a gallon there were very few comments about the price," he said, noting a July 1 tax increase with the reimposition of the state excise tax on gasoline also hurting.

"We're sympathetic and concerned. We're happy when it goes down and not as happy when it goes up."