HONOLULU- Hawaiian Airlines (HA) is reshaping its Main Cabin dining experience with a new pre-order meal program developed alongside James Beard finalist Chef Sheldon Simeon. The service launches on July 1 and will be available on most flights between Hawaiʻi and the U.S. continent, departing from Honolulu (HNL) and other gateway cities.
The chef-curated menu replaces the previous complimentary sandwich on domestic transpacific routes, except on the Honolulu (HNL) to New York (JFK) service, where complimentary meals will continue. Guests can pre-select dishes through the Alaska Hawaiian mobile app or website starting two weeks before departure.
Hawaiian Airlines New Chef-Curated Menu
Hawaiian Airlines is moving from a single standard meal model to a broader, choice-driven menu shaped by guest feedback. The new format gives Main Cabin travelers control over their dining selections, with options ranging from breakfast plates to local-style entrées.
Meals are prepared no more than 12 hours before each flight and delivered onboard based on guest pre-orders.
Alisa Onishi, Managing Director of Hawaiʻi Marketing at Hawaiian Airlines, said the program was designed to reflect both guest preferences and the richness of Hawaiʻi’s culinary traditions. The pre-order model, already used in First Class, now extends across the cabin to deliver a more unified service experience.
Chef Sheldon Simeon Brings Local Flavors Onboard
Chef Sheldon Simeon, known for his Maui restaurants Tin Roof and Tiffany’s, leads the Main Cabin menu development. His dishes feature signature sauces such as spicy-K mayo, sweet teriyaki, and banana bread syrup, along with a crispy topping mix made from rice crackers and furikake.
Highlights from the menu include crispy mochiko chicken with garlic noodles, barbecue teriyaki chicken bento, teriyaki cheeseburger, grilled chicken banh mi, and corned beef hash with eggs.
Plant-based and gluten-free options, such as coconut overnight oats and sweet and tangy tender greens, are also available.
Morning and Afternoon Menu Highlights
Morning flights departing between 6:00 a.m. and 9:59 a.m. offer corned beef hash and eggs, island-style French toast, banana pancake breakfast, and coconut overnight oats, priced between $10.99 and $15.99. A cheesy omelet option arrives in the fall.
Afternoon and evening flights departing between 10:00 a.m. and 8:29 p.m. feature crispy mochiko chicken, barbecue teriyaki chicken bento, teriyaki cheeseburger, grilled chicken banh mi, sweet and tangy tender greens, and an Italian sub. Prices range from $11.99 to $16.99, with cheeseburger mac and cheese joining the menu in the fall.
Two Chefs Across Two Cabins
In March, Hawaiian Airlines welcomed Chef Dell Valdez as Executive Chef. Valdez, the culinary leader behind Vein in Kakaʻako, Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery, and Mio PASTALOGY, oversees First Class and international Business Class menus. The dual-chef structure allows Hawaiian Airlines to offer curated dining across every cabin while keeping local culinary identity at the center.
Complimentary Touches and Local Partners
Hawaiian Airlines continues its Mea Hoʻokipa hospitality with complimentary touches across the cabin. Guests receive a welcome beverage, a local snack, and a sweet treat before arrival from Hawaiian Host Chocolates or Honolulu Cookie Company.
New partners join the inflight experience as well. Premium Class guests receive Anahola Granola’s Tropical Granola Bar from Kauaʻi alongside complimentary alcohol. Main Cabin guests enjoy Diamond Bakery shortbread macadamia nut cookies in the morning and Hawaiian Maui onion kettle chips in the afternoon.
Sustainability and Reduced Waste
Aligning meal production with actual demand allows Hawaiian Airlines to cut down on unnecessary food and packaging waste. Most meal packaging is compostable or recyclable, including fiber-based containers that reduce single-use plastics, supporting the airline’s commitment to caring for the ʻāina.
Special Offer for Huakaʻi Members
Hawaiʻi residents enrolled in Huakaʻi by Hawaiian, or who join the program by June 24, will receive their first two meal selections free of charge starting July 1. The offer recognizes kamaʻāina loyalty as the airline introduces the new dining experience.
Flights Covered Under the Program
The pre-order program applies to Hawaiian Airlines flights between Hawaiʻi and the U.S. continent, excluding the Honolulu (HNL) to New York JFK (JFK) route. It does not apply to interisland, South Pacific, or international flights.
Limited pre-order meal selections are available on domestic red-eye flights. Guests who skip pre-ordering can still purchase snack boxes and items from the Pau Hana snack cart onboard.
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