Originally Posted by
PUCCI GALORE
He was told that they did not do this on Hawaii as this was an international flight (as it is a long overwater flight).
Partly true.
Interestingly, in the U.S. each individual state has its own alcohol regulations which causes some variation in pre-departure drink service (in addition to lazy FAs). Some states (Hawaii, Ohio, Pennsylvania, for example) forbid any pre-departure alcohol on flights departing there. Others (like Texas) prohibit alcohol prior to noon on Sundays.
-FlyerBeek