While signature food festivals are popular throughout the world, there is nothing quite like the Waikiki SPAM JAM Festival, a cultural tradition in Hawaii.
Food festivals are common worldwide, but the Waikiki SPAM JAM Festival in Hawaii is a unique cultural tradition highly regarded as one of the state’s top annual food celebrations. The block party is returning to Oahu after a three-year break! On Saturday, April 29th, from 4-10 p.m., attendees will enjoy live entertainment while savoring local restaurant menu items that feature SPAM products. Traditional favorites like SPAM musubi and SPAM fried rice will be available, and new dishes like SPAM pecan cupcakes and SPAM corndogs will be created.
After the festivities, the restaurants involved will offer exclusive dishes made with SPAM brand products from April 30th to May 14th. The Waikiki SPAM JAM Festival raises funds for the Hawaii Food Bank, the Waikiki Community Center, and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii every year.
“Remarkably, almost 7 million cans of SPAM products are eaten every year in Hawaii alone — more per person than in any other state in the United States,” said Jennesa Kinscher, senior manager of the SPAM brand. “The SPAM brand has been around since 1937, and people continue to dream up new recipes and inventive ways to cook and enjoy it, which speaks to the flavor and versatility of our 10 varieties.”
The SPAM brand is one of the most iconic brands, with devoted fans worldwide reaching for the trusty, protein-packed delicacy time after time. That’s why the SPAM brand has enjoyed eight consecutive years of record sales growth. It’s no surprise that the brand continues to show up on the menus of the trendiest high-end restaurants, or that it’s used by chefs and home cooks alike.
Fun Fact: Nearly 100 million pounds of Spam were consumed by the Allied troops during World War II