Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, yesterday asked the president to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help bring down fuel prices and help airlines.

"Our nation is reeling from the impact of an energy crisis on a U.S. economy already in or on the verge of a recession," he said in a letter to President Bush, who controls the reserve. "Add to this the highest fuel prices in history ... and the impact on a petroleum-fueled economy is devastating."

Aloha Airlines cited fuel prices as one reason for its shutdown.

The reserve contains about 700 million gallons. A release could provide a temporary supply of cheaper gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel, Abercrombie said, acknowledging that it was not a long-term solution.

Other members of Hawai'i's congressional delegation also were searching yesterday for ways to respond to Aloha's shutdown.

Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said she discussed Aloha's closure with the committee chairman, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn.

"I will continue to explore all actions and options available at the federal level, as well as support the state Legislature's ongoing efforts to find a viable way to keep Aloha Airlines in business," she said.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee with oversight of aviation, is working to ensure that laid-off Aloha workers have access to all federal protections and programs, said Jennifer Sabas, his chief of staff.

The senator might call a hearing into Aloha and the aviation industry, and the federal role in providing a reliable system, free of predatory pricing and unfair competition, in a time of increasing fuel costs, Sabas said.