Hawaiian Airlines & Mananalu Waters
Replacing single-use plastic with aluminum bottles
A sustainability initiative that replaced single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable aluminum bottles on select Hawaiian Airlines flight services.
Project case study
Project overview
In April 2022, Hawaiian Airlines partnered with Mananalu, the sustainable water company founded by Jason Momoa, to reduce single-use plastic waste onboard its flights. The airline introduced 16-ounce aluminum water bottles for Premium Cabin guests on all U.S. East Coast and international routes, and replaced the plastic bottles sold on its Pau Hana snack cart on flights between Hawaii and the continental U.S.
The initiative was built to make a measurable difference. Hawaiian Airlines expected the first phase to remove about 142,000 plastic bottles a year from its operations. For every bottle replaced onboard, Mananalu worked with rePurpose Global to divert another bottle from oceans and waterways, bringing the projected annual impact to 284,000 bottles.
Mananalu’s BPA-free aluminum bottles held triple-filtered purified drinking water with added electrolytes. The brand has since evolved and is now powered by Boomerang Water, which focuses on reusable bottle systems.
Key Facts
- Launch: April 2022
- Partner: Mananalu (founded by Jason Momoa)
- Product: 16 oz aluminum water bottles
- Where used: Premium Cabin and the Pau Hana snack cart
- Impact goal: 284,000 plastic bottles a year
Environmental impact
Plastic bottles removed from airline operations each year
Additional bottles diverted through rePurpose Global
Recyclable aluminum bottle size
Partnership launched in April 2022
Better for guests. Better for the ocean.
The partnership brought together two Hawaii-rooted brands with a shared goal: keeping plastic out of the islands’ oceans and waterways. Guests received a premium, refreshing water option in a bottle that can be recycled, while the airline cut a significant source of single-use plastic from its cabins.
Pairing onboard bottle replacement with ocean-bound plastic recovery doubled the initiative’s reach, turning an everyday in-flight service into a meaningful environmental step.
A step toward reducing single-use plastics
This partnership became part of Hawaiian Airlines’ broader sustainability efforts, including its commitment to reduce single-use plastics and improve environmental practices onboard.
