In Hawai‘i, the most beloved sushi isn’t filled with tuna or salmon; it’s topped with a slab of Spam, and local folks can’t get enough of the iconic canned meat. From gas-station snacks to gourmet musubi at upscale eateries, Spam is woven into island cuisine and culture, a salty symbol of Hawai‘i’s truly unique food history and local comfort cravings. Yes, Spam – the same mystery meat icon of mainland grocery store shelves – is a superstar in Hawaiian cuisine. The love story began in World War II, when Spam was served to GIs in the Pacific and found its way into local kitchens. With fresh meat scarce and refrigerators rare, islanders embraced the salty, long-lasting luncheon meat.
Over the decades, Hawai‘i developed its own Spam-centric creations, the most famous being the Spam musubi: a slice of fried Spam perched on a block of rice, wrapped snugly in nori seaweed like a tasty hand-held hug. Wander into any 7-Eleven or mom-and-pop store in Hawai‘i and you’ll likely find warm Spam musubi by the register, ready to grab-and-go for breakfast, lunch, or an after-surf snack. It’s the ultimate comfort food: cheap, filling, and oddly satisfying. Kids grow up with Spam fried rice at family parties and Spam and eggs for Sunday breakfast. Even McDonald’s in Hawaii serves Spam, eggs, and rice as a morning combo (much to the shock of visitors who discover their Egg McMuffin has been upstaged by fried spiced pork!). Over time, Spam graduated from survival food to beloved local tradition. We throw an annual Waikiki Spam Jam festival where chefs concoct Spam everything – from teriyaki-glazed Spam burgers to Spam-flavored cookies (seriously). There are limited-edition Spam flavors like Pineapple or Portuguese sausage Spam sold in Hawai‘i, catering to island tastes. High-end restaurants have even flirted with gourmet Spam creations, turning that humble can into crispy musubi appetizers or fancy fried rice, to the delight of patrons who grew up eating it.
What’s the secret? Part of it is nostalgia – Spam tastes like childhood to many locals. Part of it is practicality – it’s shelf-stable meat that can feed a crowd on a budget. But mostly, Hawai‘i just isn’t afraid to remix influences and make them its own. We took an all-American product, added a scoop of rice, a dash of shoyu (soy sauce), and a lot of aloha, and created a cultural icon on a plate.
Hawai‘i residents now consume over 5 million pounds of Spam a year (about 5 cans per person!) and we wear that fact with pride. So, don’t be shy – if you visit the islands, grab a Spam musubi and join the fun. It might sound strange, but one savory bite of that soy-glazed, grilled Spam on rice might convert you into a believer. In a place known for volcanoes, beaches, and hula, it’s comforting to know that a simple canned meat snack can bring everyone together. In Hawai‘i, aloha sometimes comes wrapped in seaweed. Food & Drink – Hawaii Monthly Staff hawaiimonthly.com