No kidding. I live on a similar hill, with similar results; it doesn't help that there are stop lights and stop signs on the way up and down the hill.

Ironically, there is in fact a way for me to increase my commute MPG -- by going on a five-mile detour to sneak up the hill from the back. So my MPG would increase, but I would nearly double my commute, and end up using significantly more gas overall. Thus inflating my MPG bragging rights, but wasting more oil.

Pride and ego being what they are, I am sorry to say that I actually considered changing my commute in this way. But thankfully I came to my senses, and now I just take the hit.

So if you are disappointed in your MPG, remember that all these factors that have been mentioned will play a part in what your ultimate MPG will be; and everybody's resulting MPG is going to be different, by as much as 10 or more. So don't sweat the final value, just enjoy the car, and enjoy getting 20-30% better MPG than you would in a non-hybrid civic.