Spam

The Hormel company's canned meat product Spam has been highly popular in Hawaii for decades. Hawaiians are the second largest consumers of Spam in the world, right behind Guam. Originally brought to Hawaii by American servicemen in their rations, Spam became an important source of protein for locals after fishing around the Islands was prohibited during World War II. In 2005, Hawaiians consumed more than five million cans of Spam.

Spam is used in local dishes in a variety of ways, most commonly fried and served with rice. In breakfast, fried eggs are often served together. Spam can also be wrapped in ti and roasted, skewered and deep fried, or stir-fried with cabbage. It is added to saimin or fried rice, mashed with tofu, or served with cold sōmen or baked macaroni and cheese. It is also used in chutney for pupu, in sandwich with mayonnaise, or baked with guava jelly. Spam musubi, a slice of sweet and salty marinated Spam tied to a cake of rice with a strip of nori, is very popular as a snack in Hawaii. Spam musubi is served in sushi restaurants in Hawaii, having become popular in the 1980s.

Pin It