Last Updated on November 4, 2026 by Tyler Morgan
Hawaiian Airlines changed how it feeds Main Cabin passengers in 2026. Since July 1, the free hot meal on most flights between Hawaii and the US mainland has been replaced by a pre-order menu designed by Maui chef Sheldon Simeon. The free welcome drink, local snack and sweet treat before landing are still served. Because Hawaiian is now part of the same company as Alaska Airlines, the ordering, app and loyalty perks work much like Alaska’s.
This guide lists the current Hawaiian Main Cabin menu with prices, what is still complimentary on each type of route, the beverage menu, First and Business Class dining, and the Alaska Airlines menu for comparison.
Quick Answer
On most flights between Hawaii and the US mainland, Hawaiian Airlines now sells Main Cabin meals by pre-order for about $10.99–$16.99, ordered from two weeks to 20 hours before departure. Every guest still gets a free welcome drink, a local snack and a sweet treat. Flights to New York JFK, interisland flights and international flights keep their own service.
Key Takeaways
- Since July 1, 2026, Hawaiian’s mainland Main Cabin meals are paid pre-orders. Honolulu–New York JFK still includes a free meal.
- Pre-order through the Alaska Hawaiian app or My Trips on hawaiianairlines.com, from 2 weeks to 20 hours before departure.
- Free for everyone: a welcome beverage, a local snack (shortbread cookies in the morning, Maui onion chips later) and a sweet treat before landing.
- Alcohol is complimentary in Premium Class, First Class and international Business Class, and for Atmos Gold or higher members on transpacific flights.
- Alaska Airlines Main Cabin drinks cost $8.99 for beer, $9.99 for wine or spirits and $12.99 for canned cocktails.
What Changed on Hawaiian Airlines in 2026
Alaska Air Group completed its purchase of Hawaiian in September 2024. HawaiianMiles became Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025, and the two airlines began flying under a single FAA operating certificate on October 29, 2025. On April 22, 2026, they moved to one reservation system and one app. Hawaiian flights are now “operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines” and carry the AS code, but they keep the Hawaiian brand and island-style service. Hawaiian’s Extra Comfort section is now called Premium Class.
The biggest change for hungry passengers came on July 1, 2026. Hawaiian stopped serving a complimentary Main Cabin meal on most flights between Hawaii and the US mainland and launched a chef-curated pre-order menu instead. Meals are made with fresh ingredients no more than 12 hours before departure, and the menu rotates during the year. If you fly with an Alaska companion fare, our guide to using the Alaska companion fare on Hawaiian explains how it works now that the two airlines share systems.
Hawaiian Airlines Main Cabin Menu and Prices
These are the prices Hawaiian announced for the pre-order program. Plant-based and gluten-free options are marked. Hawaiian says pricing matches comparable onboard and local market offerings.
| Morning menu (departures 6:00–9:59 a.m.) | Price |
|---|---|
| Corned beef hash and eggs by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Island-style French toast breakfast by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Banana pancake breakfast by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Coconut overnight oats (vegan, gluten-free) | $10.99 |
| Cheesy omelet with chicken sausage (announced for fall 2026) | $13.99 |
Flights leaving from 10 a.m. switch to the lunch and dinner menu:
| Afternoon and evening menu (departures 10:00 a.m.–8:29 p.m.) | Price |
|---|---|
| Crispy mochiko chicken and garlic noodles by Chef Sheldon | $16.99 |
| Barbecue teriyaki chicken bento by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Teriyaki cheeseburger by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Grilled chicken banh mi sandwich by Chef Sheldon | $15.99 |
| Sweet and tangy tender greens salad (vegan, gluten-free) | $14.49 |
| Italian sub with Chef Sheldon’s mac salad | $12.49 |
| Cheeseburger mac and cheese (announced for fall 2026) | $11.99 |
Menus rotate, so check the app when you order. If you do not pre-order, you can still buy snack boxes and items from the Pau Hana snack cart on board, but hot meals are not guaranteed. Hawaii residents in the Huakaʻi by Hawaiian program received their first two pre-order items free when the menu launched.
What Is Still Free on Hawaiian Airlines
Every guest on Hawaiian still gets a welcome beverage, a local snack and a “mahalo” sweet treat before arrival from Hawaiian Host Chocolates or Honolulu Cookie Company. In Main Cabin, the snack is Diamond Bakery shortbread macadamia nut cookies in the morning and Hawaiian Maui onion kettle chips in the afternoon. Soft drinks, juice and coffee remain free. Passion Orange Guava (POG) juice is the signature drink on Hawaii flights.
| Route | Main Cabin food | Complimentary drinks |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii – US mainland (except JFK) | Pre-order meals for purchase; free local snack and sweet treat; snack boxes and Pau Hana cart for purchase | Welcome beverage, soft drinks, juice, coffee |
| Honolulu – New York JFK | Complimentary meal | Welcome beverage, soft drinks, juice, coffee |
| Interisland (Neighbor Island) | Pre-order program does not apply; short flights | Welcome beverage |
| International and South Pacific (for example Sydney, Auckland, Tokyo) | Pre-order program does not apply; meal service continues | Soft drinks, juice, coffee; check the onboard menu for alcohol |
| Red-eye flights to the mainland | Limited pre-order selections | Welcome beverage, soft drinks |
For older background on meal service by route, see our Hawaiian Airlines food guide. For the full route map, see Hawaiian Airlines destinations.
Hawaiian Airlines Beverage Menu
The complimentary drinks are soft drinks, juices including POG, water, coffee and tea, plus the welcome drink at the start of the flight. Beer, wine and cocktails are generally sold in Main Cabin. In summer 2026 Hawaiian added its Tide & Vine wines to Main Cabin: a red blend, a white blend and a brut sparkling wine, with part of the sales going to Malama Maunalua, which restores Oahu’s Maunalua Bay. Hawaiian has also introduced Kō Hana rum cocktails, a Mai Tai and a Pineapple Daiquiri, sold in Main Cabin on select flights between Hawaii and North America, American Samoa, the Cook Islands and Tahiti.
Alcohol is complimentary in Premium Class, First Class and international Business Class. Atmos Gold, Platinum and Titanium members also get complimentary alcohol on transpacific flights even when seated in Main Cabin. Hawaiian has also offered a complimentary rum punch to guests 21 and over on daytime domestic flights in the past. Reports in 2026 said it no longer appeared on the published menu, so treat it as a bonus if it shows up.
First Class and International Business Class
First Class on domestic routes always includes a meal, whether or not you pre-select. Hawaiian recommends choosing in advance, and the pre-order list for First Class grew in 2026. Executive Chef Dell Valdez, who joined in March 2026, oversees the First Class and international Business Class menus. On long international routes such as Honolulu–Sydney, Business Class passengers get multi-course meals and a full bar. Main Cabin pre-ordering does not apply on international flights. Our Hawaiian Airlines premium cabin guide compares the seats.
Alaska Airlines Menu 2026
Alaska has sold Main Cabin food rather than giving it away for years, and Hawaiian’s new model now follows the same pattern. Meals are served on most flights of 775 miles or more, with availability by time of day and destination. Beverage service starts on trips over 350 miles. Items listed in the Alaska app in spring 2026 included:
| Alaska Main Cabin item (spring 2026) | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Picnic Packs (Northwest Deli, Mediterranean Tapas) | $9.99 |
| Signature Fruit & Cheese Platter | $11.99 |
| Beecher’s Flagship Mac & Cheese | $12.49 |
| Antipasto Platter | $12.99 |
| Chicken Club Wrap | $13.99 |
| Kids’ Choice Picnic Pack | $8.99 |
Main Cabin drinks cost $8.99 for beer, $9.99 for wine or spirits and $12.99 for canned cocktails. Free drinks include Coca-Cola products, juices, seltzer, Stumptown coffee and Stash tea. Premium Class gets free alcohol, and on flights over 2,140 miles, which includes Hawaii and coast-to-coast routes, a snack basket. Atmos Titanium members can pre-order one complimentary Main Cabin meal or snack on flights where food is served. Flights to and from Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado may get a reduced service because of turbulence.
International: on Alaska’s long-haul routes from Seattle to Reykjavík, London and Rome, food is complimentary in both Main Cabin and Premium Class. For more detail, see our Alaska Airlines food guide.
How to Pre-Order Meals on Hawaiian or Alaska
- Open the Alaska Hawaiian app (choose the Hawaiian or Alaska theme) or go to My Trips on the airline’s website.
- Find your flight and select pre-order food. Hawaiian sends an email about two weeks before departure when the menu opens.
- Order between 2 weeks and 20 hours before departure. Popular items can sell out, especially on morning flights.
- Store a payment card. On Alaska, the card is not charged until the item is delivered to your seat.
- Know the limits. Pre-orders are not available on group bookings, and meal choices do not carry over if you change flights.
Tip: Searches for a specific flight number, such as an Alaska flight on a particular date, will not turn up a public menu. The menu you can buy from is the one shown for your booking in the app’s Trips section. Check it as soon as the 2-week window opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the Hawaiian Airlines in-flight menu?
On most Hawaii–mainland flights, the Main Cabin menu is a pre-order list by Chef Sheldon Simeon. Breakfasts include corned beef hash and banana pancakes, and later flights offer mochiko chicken with garlic noodles, a teriyaki cheeseburger and a bento. Prices run from about $10.99 to $16.99. Every guest still gets a free welcome drink, local snack and sweet treat.
Does Hawaiian Airlines still serve free meals to Hawaii?
Not on most mainland routes. Since July 1, 2026, Main Cabin meals between Hawaii and the US mainland are paid pre-orders. Honolulu–New York JFK keeps a complimentary Main Cabin meal, and the pre-order program does not apply to interisland, South Pacific or international flights. First Class passengers always receive a meal, whether or not they pre-select.
What is on the Hawaiian Airlines beverage menu, and is it free?
Soft drinks, juices including POG, water, coffee, tea and a welcome beverage are free for everyone. Main Cabin alcohol, such as Tide & Vine wines and Kō Hana rum cocktails like the Mai Tai, is generally for purchase. Alcohol is complimentary in Premium Class, First Class and Business Class, and for Atmos Gold members and above on transpacific flights.
How do I order meals on Hawaiian Airlines?
Use the Alaska Hawaiian app or the My Trips section of hawaiianairlines.com. Ordering opens up to two weeks before departure and closes 20 hours before the flight, and Hawaiian emails you when the menu opens. You do not need to pre-order on international flights, where meal service is separate. Red-eye flights have limited selections.
Does Hawaiian offer free alcoholic beverages on international flights?
Complimentary alcohol is guaranteed in international Business Class and for Atmos Gold, Platinum and Titanium members on transpacific flights. Main Cabin on international routes keeps its meal service, but what is poured free can vary by route, so check the onboard menu. Premium Class passengers also receive complimentary alcohol.
Is there food service on Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Hawaii?
Yes, but Main Cabin food is for purchase. You can pre-order from 2 weeks to 20 hours before departure or buy on board while supplies last. Soft drinks, coffee and POG juice are free. Premium Class adds free alcohol and a snack basket on flights over 2,140 miles, which includes Hawaii. Beer costs $8.99 and wine $9.99 in Main Cabin.
Does Alaska Airlines serve free food on international flights?
Yes. On Alaska’s long-haul routes between Seattle and Reykjavík, London and Rome, food is complimentary in both Main Cabin and Premium Class, and business class has its own wine program. Hawaiian-operated international flights to the South Pacific and Asia keep Hawaiian’s own meal service and are not part of the paid pre-order program.
Sources
- Alaska Air Group Newsroom – Hawaiian Airlines elevates onboard service – July 1, 2026 pre-order launch, exclusions (JFK, interisland, international), complimentary items
- Hawaiian Airlines press release (via Finviz) – Pre-order dining by celebrated Hawai’i chefs – full menu with prices, ordering window, complimentary snacks
- Alaska Airlines (on hawaiianairlines.com) – Main Cabin and Premium Class food and drinks – Alaska drink prices, service thresholds, international complimentary food, pre-order rules
- Travel Agent Central – Alaska and Hawaiian move to shared passenger experience – Extra Comfort renamed Premium Class; complimentary alcohol for Premium Class and Atmos Gold+ on transpacific flights
- Aloha State Daily – Hawaiian and Alaska approaching the next milestone – single operating certificate (October 29, 2025) and April 22, 2026 system cutover
- Hawaii News Now – Alaska, Hawaiian debut new summer beverage offerings – Tide & Vine Main Cabin wines
- MilesMate – Alaska Airlines inflight food guide, summer 2026 – Alaska Main Cabin item prices from the app, May 2026
