NationStates Jolt Archive

Ever eat Spam? You know that canned lunch meat.

The people of Hawaii are obsessed with Spam. It has the highest Spam consumption per capita of any state and also consumes more than twice the national average, about four cans of Spam per person per year, or about 40% of all the Spam in the world. I think they serve it in McDonalds.

What is the story there?

Got to be something to do with the meth.

I think it has something to do with the military and world war 2.

Did you know that on a can of spam there are instructions on how to grill or bbq it...*shudders*... niether did I until I contmplated eating some spam yesterday (contemplation ended when the reading of the can started, not as scary as I thought it would be, still horrifying)

My girlfriend's Dad (Who's just moved here from Hawaii) says it's because, up until early WWII, most of the supplies for the Islands were brought in by ship from the Mainland US- a trip that could take as long as a week, and one that wasn't always conducive to transporting livestock etc.

As a result, SPAM (Spiced Ham, for the record) was cheap, it wasn't perishable, and you could transport vast quantities of it in the hold of a frieghter.

SPAM itself is pretty versatile stuff (although there's only so much of it you can tolerate before it sends you mad), which also adds to it's popularity in Hawaii. It was also popular with the military during WWII, for the same reason.

It's also worth mentioning that it's not just Hawaiians who are mad for the stuff. Most Pacific Islanders (Notably Samoans, Tongans, Niueans, Cook Islanders, and so on) are also very keen on it as well, for exactly the same reasons.

Who can resist canned meat? I mean, I don't blame them :D Seriously, I've been there twice and haven't seen any of the locals eating it. Saw a couple tourist but no locals. I don't know whats the deal with that but whatever.

It's not just people from Hawaii although it is unusually popular there. :rolleyes:

http://www.loc.gov/bicentennial/propage/MN/mn-1_h_gutknecht1.html

http://www.insidebayarea.com/food/ci_2500248

Spam is the closest thing they can come to actual fresh meat.

Unless they revert to cannibalism. Which would have a lower sodium content...*rubs chin thoughtfully*

Probably Spam never existed in a tin form in Hawaii. So it's rare.

Now because of globalisation, we can practically get any goods anywhere. So Spam is readily available in Hawaii. And their all hooked on it.

Just like the Artican's are hooked on to sugar. :p

uhh uhhuhhh... I think so :D

The people of Hawaii are obsessed with Spam.

I know - it's just freaky. For some reason, Hawaiians think this stuff is actual food. It can't be the lack of meat because they have one of the largest cattle ranches in the states (by number of cattle, I presume, rather than area), and I had two of the best steaks ever there.

To prove that they are totally strange, I offer two words: Spam Sushi. :eek:

The stuff was everywhere.

My brother just told me that Phillipines is the highest spam eaters in the world. :p But hawaii is the most per capita.

Probably Spam never existed in a tin form in Hawaii. So it's rare.

Now because of globalisation, we can practically get any goods anywhere. So Spam is readily available in Hawaii. And their all hooked on it.

Just like the Artican's are hooked on to sugar. :p

uhh uhhuhhh... I think so :D

A few of the posters above you say otherwise..

I know - it's just freaky. For some reason, Hawaiians think this stuff is actual food. It can't be the lack of meat because they have one of the largest cattle ranches in the states (by number of cattle, I presume, rather than area), and I had two of the best steaks ever there.

To prove that they are totally strange, I offer two words: Spam Sushi. :eek:

The stuff was everywhere.Spam Sushi is avaiable... but Spam Musubi is bettah.

and there are many, many ways to cook it. all you need to do is experiment.

also, at least Hawaii doesn't have Spam Festivals... that honor goes to a Continetal US city.

I had Spam once... it made me sick.