Michael Kohatsu didn't wait for gasoline prices to skyrocket before he decided to do something about cutting the cost of commuting to work in his full-size pickup truck.

The 34-year-old construction worker started using the Vanpool ride-sharing program three years ago when gasoline was selling for just more than $2 for a gallon of regular. With Honolulu pump prices now averaging more than $3.25 a gallon, Kohatsu said he's glad he made the switch when he did.

"I've been saving about $80 a week, so it's a big thing," he said.

Kohatsu, who works at S & G Construction Inc., drives 13 other van poolers from Waimanalo to Sand Island to Barbers Point and back. "I sacrifice a little bit more time dropping off people, but that sacrifice time is worth saving money," he said.

Meanwhile, Thomas Shigeta and four co-workers who live in downtown Honolulu also grew tired of commuting costs and decided to Vanpool to work at the Pearl Harbor Shipyard. The group began using the program this month with a federal subsidy of $105 per federal employee per month to cover the seat fee and gas.

"I thought I'd give it a try and see how it works out — and it seems to be OK so far," Shigeta said. "It works out well because people in our Vanpool live relatively close to each other."

The 48-year-old computer engineer does most of the driving and said the transition to van pooling has gone smoothly.

The concept of car pooling is nothing new to Hawai'i, though recent high gas prices have pushed more people to join the likes of Kohatsu and Shigeta and cut down on commuting costs by van or car pooling.

Since gas prices began rising sharply last fall, the number of van poolers has risen from about 1,700 to roughly 2,000, with 30 new Vanpool vehicles added, said Vicki Harris, executive director of Vanpool. Meanwhile, the state-sponsored Carpool Matching program has seen a 10 percent to 20 percent increase in the number of people listed since gas prices began rising, said Laura Manuel, highway safety specialist at the state Department of Transportation.

About 1,500 people are on a list that matches car poolers who start and end their commutes in the same general areas — most of them coming from Central and Leeward O'ahu, according to Scott Ishikawa, Department of Transportation spokesman.

Programs like Vanpool and Carpool Matching, as well as car pool lanes, have been encouraging people for years to cut down the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road, said Ishikawa. That's especially beneficial on a 600-square-mile island where 688,163 motor vehicles were registered in 2004.

"If more people car pool, it's better for everybody," Ishikawa said. "We're always encouraging people to car pool."

Car poolers save time because they are allowed to use the high-occupancy vehicle and zipper lanes. They also save on fuel, parking costs and wear and tear on their own vehicles. Other benefits include reducing driving stress, helping the environment and lessening demand for new roads and parking facilities. Some car poolers even use the spare time to sleep, read or do paperwork.

Van or car pooling also is more convenient for those who live or work far from a bus stop or need a more direct route. A monthly bus pass for an adult is $40, while van pooling with a group of 14 costs Kohatsu about $83 per month for his seat fee and share of gas. Although using the bus would be the cheapest way to commute, getting to a bus stop from Sand Island means Kohatsu and his co-workers would have to walk a couple of miles to Dillingham Boulevard, he said.

Van pooling is an option that can save drivers between $700 and $1,000 a month on their vehicle when gas and maintenance are factored in, Harris said.

The Department of Transportation has had a contract with Vanpool since 1994 to provide air-conditioned vehicles that can carry anywhere from seven to 15 passengers. One member of the group drives and picks up the other van poolers. Riders and drivers pay $55 for a monthly seat fee and split the cost of commute fuel and parking. Cool Pool, a sport utility vehicle alternative that began in 1999, costs $70 for a seat per month.

Harris said the ages of van poolers range from the mid-20s to 50s.

"Some people are just tired of driving — particularly people on the 'Ewa plain," she said.

Harris also said a handful of commuters recently sold their second, larger car and decided to Vanpool instead.

Cool Pool also has enjoyed an increase since gas prices went up, according to Harris, and attracts those who want a higher-end vehicle. The majority of Cool Pool riders are male commuters and van poolers who want to upgrade, she said.

In addition to encouraging van pooling and car pool matching, state freeway projects also encourage two or more people to commute together.

The Department of Transportation provides HOV lanes on the H-1 and H-2 freeways and Kalaniana'ole Highway.

The zip lane on the H-1 Freeway opened in 2001 and accommodates car poolers from Central and Leeward O'ahu. In 2003, the Nimitz Highway contraflow lane ran through the Ke'ehi Interchange/Middle Street area to Pier 32, and in 2005, the H-1 ZipLane extension connected the zip lane with the Nimitz contraflow lane, providing one continuous route to downtown.

We are "trying to entice drivers to car pool," said Ishikawa, adding that the Transportation Department is looking into the possibility of an afternoon zip lane for car poolers heading west on H-1.

LEARN MORE

For more information on how you can become a van pooler, call Vanpool Hawaii at (808) 596-VANS or click on www.vanpoolhawaii.com.

Other sites that match car poolers:
www.state.hi.us/dot/publicaf fairs/rideshare/match.htm
www.honolulu.craigslist.org/rid/
www.erideshare.com
www.carpoolconnect.com
www.carpoolworld.com

Reach Christine Terada at cterada@honoluluadvertiser.com .