KAUNAKAKAI, Moloka'i — A gas station on Moloka'i prepared to run out of fuel as rumors of an islandwide gas shortage kept residents rushing to the pumps yesterday for the second day.

Lori-Lei Rawlins-Crivello, of Rawlins Chevron Service, said yesterday the station had enough gas until its 9 p.m. closing time, but she didn't know if the tanks would run dry before more gas was delivered this afternoon.

Although signs were posted to let people know more gas would arrive today, a steady stream of customers waited to fill up their cars and gas cans.

"We are pretty low," she said.

The day before, Rawlins Chevron owner Shirley Rawlins had to limit customers to $100 worth of gas as they topped off their tanks and loaded gas cans.

"People are bringing more than they should," she said.

"I was telling them to be careful with so much gas in the cans, that's dangerous to keep at home. It's really interesting when the panic button hits."

Rumors spread Thursday when officials with the island's main distributor, Island Petroleum, learned that the arrival of a refueling barge would be delayed.

The barge was unable to dock at Kaunakakai Harbor on Thursday because it was loaded down and riding too low in the water. The barge, which went on to Hilo and Maui, is scheduled to dock in Kaunakakai this afternoon after lightening its load.

Island Petroleum manager Frank Keoho said once the rumor started, it spread quickly. "There were rumors going around that we were going to be out of gas for a week or a month and people panicked."