Watch: Making Spam Musubi in Hawaii at the Waikiki Spam Jam

Why do Hawaiians Eat So Much Spam???

In this episode of Quest for the Fest, I link up with Bitsy Kelley, the co-founder of the Waikiki Spam Jam, to learn more about the festival and Spam’s history. I also hit up the popular grocery chain, Foodland to learn how to make Spam musubi and try some other creative Spam concoctions.

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Learning all the different ways to make Spam Musubi at Foodland!

Held every April on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, the Waikiki Spam Jam is a super dope, beach-side, street party celebrating everyone’s favorite salty meat in a can… SPAM!

It’s true, Hawaiians DO love their Spam and this event showed me why.

With paradise as a backdrop, the event closes down Kalakaua Avenue to make room for the more than 25,000 people who come from all over the world. For the entire day, Spam is eaten about a gazillion different ways. It’s celebrated on bags, t-shirts, towels and even in song.

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Me with “Spam-my” at the Spam Jam

Introduced by Hormel Foods in 1937 during WWII, Spam became a popular food source for GIs during the war because it had a long shelf life and didn’t require any refrigeration.

Since then, Spam has become a luncheon tradition. Hawaii eats over 7 million cans of Spam every year (more than any other state) and at this festival, visitors are invited to try it as a ‘spam’-wich, in soups, fried up, stewed, sautéed and even in a flán. Yes, really.

It’s salty, it’s versatile, it’s weird, but also pretty tasty too. I personally never grew up eating it, but have really grown to like it, thanks to my recent Hawaiian adventures.

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Strollin’ down Waikiki Beach

Sponsored by Outrigger Resorts and others, the festival is a pretty fun event to catch if you happen to be on Island visiting that weekend. In addition, this special event benefits the Hawaii Foodbank, the largest non-profit in Hawaii.

WATCH the episode HERE.

 

 

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