🥓 The 5 Stages of Falling in Love with Spam in Hawaii (Yes, Spam)
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, Spam — the canned meat cube your grandma stockpiled for the apocalypse — is a beloved delicacy in Hawaii. It’s on breakfast plates, in bento boxes, wrapped in seaweed, and yes... even in McDonald’s.
If that’s shocking, don’t worry. Most visitors go through the same emotional rollercoaster. So buckle up, because here are the 5 hilarious but true stages of falling head over heels for Hawaii’s favorite meat brick.
😬 Stage 1: Denial — “Wait… They Eat What Here?”
You land in Oahu. You’re soaking in the palm trees, the plumeria breeze — and then someone offers you Spam musubi.
“Spam?” you ask, thinking it’s a prank.
Nope. It's wrapped in rice and seaweed, and people are legit excited about it.
Cue internal monologue:
"I didn’t fly 3,000 miles to eat gas station meat."
🧐 Stage 2: Curiosity — “I Mean... It Smells Kinda Good?”
The scent hits you first — savory, sweet, sizzling. Someone on your tour is eating Spam musubi and not sharing. You're intrigued.
You start Googling:
“Why do Hawaiians love Spam?”
“Is Spam actually good?”
“Does Spam count as meat?”
The curiosity itch has begun. Resistance is crumbling.
🍴 Stage 3: The First Bite — “Wait… This Is Delicious??”
Maybe it's a roadside stand. Maybe it's your tour guide handing you a fresh musubi during a Circle Island lunch stop. Either way, you give in.
The verdict?
🔥 Salty. Crispy. Umami perfection.
The rice balances it. The nori wraps it like a sushi burrito. You take another bite. Then another. And just like that...
❤️ Stage 4: Full Commitment — “Where Can I Buy This?”
You’re all in. You're now hunting musubi in ABC stores, gas stations, and 7-Elevens. You say things like:
"This one has teriyaki glaze!"
"Mine has egg on top!"
Your suitcase starts making room for Spam souvenirs. You're wondering how many cans TSA will allow.
😂 Stage 5: Evangelist Mode — “Listen, You Have to Try the Spam”
You’ve become the very thing you used to mock. Back home, you’re hosting backyard luaus and busting out Spam recipes.
Your friends look confused. You don’t care. You’ve seen the light.
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” you say like a seasoned musubi prophet.
🤙 Spam + Sunshine = Only in Hawaii
Whether you love it from the first bite or need some warming up, Spam is a must-try part of Hawaii’s culture — and there’s no better way to experience it than with locals who know where to get the best.
Join us on our Next Level Circle Island Tour where we’ll show you exactly where to find the tastiest Spam musubi on Oahu — no judgment, just aloha.