Hey Gadfly,
Tell us more about your commute. We could give you better advice if we knew more details. How long is it before you hit the hill? How long is the hill? For example, Newport Coast Drive mentioned by SipperPhoto is 2 miles long. How fast in MPH do you go up the hill? What quits first, your lungs or your legs? How many times do you have to stop on the way up? Going slower is always an option to lower your heartrate so you don't blow up.
Tom