That Spam I Am: Hawaii

I just read an interesting story in Aloha Airlines’ Spirit of Aloha Magazine called “Spam and I” by Benton Sen. It tells the fascinating tale of why Hawaiians consume 7 million cans of Spam annually — more per capita than any other place on Earth.

The story says, “The first can of Spam was sold over 80 years ago. Today, more than 60 million people in the United States eat it, over 141 million cans are sold worldwide each year. Last count, 5 billion cans have been sold in 93 countries. If all the cans ever eaten were put end-to-end, they would circle the globe 10 times.”

I’ve eaten a variety of Spam in the homes of Hawaiians over the years: barbecued, with sushi, with eggs, pan-fried, deep-fried, etc. They love salt. They love ham. They love them both more when it’s that spicy Spam. Read the story.