Travelers passing through Hawaii's three airports are about to see a very different lineup of restaurants, bars and grab-and-go counters, as the state rolls out a multi-year dining overhaul that adds name-brand local chefs and island beverage makers while refreshing existing spaces. The changes will unfold at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Lihue Airport (LIH) and Kahului Airport (OGG) between now and the end of 2027.
The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation and global concessionaire HMSHost, a subsidiary of Swiss travel retail giant Avolta AG, officially announced the collaboration this week, according to HMSHost. The plan calls for HMSHost to operate the new restaurants, bars and quick-service spots through 2027, though the company has not released a location-by-location construction schedule or individual opening dates, as Beat of Hawaii first reported. HMSHost also has not announced menus or pricing for any of the new concepts, and the companies' announcement does not spell out ownership, licensing or revenue-sharing arrangements at each airport location, per the same outlet's report.
Honolulu Gets Four New Concepts, Including a Return for Alan Wong
HNL is slated to receive four new food and beverage concepts split between its two terminals. Terminal 2 will house Alan Wong's, the flagship venue from the James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Wong closed his celebrated Honolulu restaurant in November 2020 under pandemic pressure before returning to local dining at The Kahala Hotel & Resort in March 2026, according to Hawaii.com.
Terminal 2 will also add Aloha Plate, a quick-service bento and sandwich concept created by past winners of Food Network's “The Great Food Truck Race,” along with The Lei-Over, a sister venue to downtown Honolulu's cocktail bar The Lei Stand, per HMSHost's announcement. Terminal 1 will get On the Fly by MW Restaurant, from husband-and-wife chefs Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka. The pair previously built aviation culinary chops when Hawaiian Airlines named Wade Ueoka its Executive Chef in 2020 to oversee all in-flight meals and catering, according to the MW Restaurant website.
Kauai Rum and Maui Beer Head to the Neighbor Islands
Lihue Airport is set to gain two new concepts: Wailua Falls Market, a grab-and-go stop selling sandwiches, salads, fruit and juices, and the Koloa Rum Company Cocktail Room, described as the first airport concept of its kind at LIH. Kōloa Rum launched in 2009 after building a distillery on Kauai. Kōloa Mill opened in 1835 and was Hawaii's first successful sugar mill, according to Forbes.
Kahului Airport on Maui will also see two additions: The Tap House by Maui Brewing Co., serving the brewery's beers, seltzers and cocktails, and an Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery location featuring cocktails and food tied to its Maui operation. Beyond the new builds, HMSHost's plan includes physical refreshes of existing island-themed spots Stinger Rays and Lahaina Chicken, alongside national chains Burger King, California Pizza Kitchen and Dunkin', the company's announcement notes.
A Rollout Already Underway Since Late 2025
The overhaul includes an opening before this week's announcement. In December 2025, HDOT and HMSHost opened the Waialua Bar & Cafe in HNL Terminal 1, serving food and cocktails inspired by Oahu's North Shore Waialua district. HMSHost Vice President of Business Development Anthony Alessi described Waialua Bar & Cafe as the first of several new dining options developed with HMSHost, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
The agency also opened a Panda Express in HNL Terminal 1 in May 2025, with a second location planned for Terminal 2's food court, expanding fast-casual options alongside the upscale local partnerships. HMSHost's relationship with Hawaii's airports goes back further still: the company led a joint public-private partnership with DFS that invested more than $69 million in HNL retail and restaurant infrastructure beginning in 2016, per the state transportation agency.
Digital Ordering and Loyalty Perks Across All Three Airports
Alongside the new menus, the rollout will bring modernized digital ordering tools to all three airports, including self-order kiosks, QR-code payment options and digital waitlists. Travelers will also be able to earn cross-promotional rewards through Avolta's global Club Avolta loyalty program, HMSHost said in its announcement. Avolta operates in more than 70 countries with over 5,000 retail and dining locations worldwide, while HMSHost alone runs more than 1,000 food and beverage locations at nearly 80 North American airports.
What the announcement does not address is how much prices will rise once the new concepts open. Beat of Hawaii's report noted that its authors found a Dunkin' closed during a recent airport visit, with Starbucks and Burger King the only restaurants open in the older Terminal 1 area by 6 p.m. — a reminder that even as HDOT invests further in food and beverage upgrades, including the $300 million Mauka Concourse, service gaps at existing counters remain part of the current travel experience.
