The 22nd Annual Waikīkī SPAM JAM Festival is coming up Saturday, April 25, from 4 to 10 p.m. This year, the street festival will feature more than 40 food and retail booths, limited-edition Spam slippers from OluKai, and a Spam-themed drone show.
“Celebrating our 22nd year, and recognized by USA Today readers as one of the top 10 cultural festivals in America, the Waikīkī SPAM JAM continues to evolve with more creative food options and new partnerships each year,” says Toby Tamaye, marketing director of the Waikīkī SPAM JAM. “In 2027, the Waikīkī Spam Jam will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Spam product, and there will be even more added to celebrate this special anniversary.”
New vendors this year include Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, Waikīkī Shokudo, OluKai, King’s Hawaiian, Mahaloha Burger and Linaka’s Catering, according to Tamaye. Five restaurants will be serving Spam paired with King’s Hawaiian rolls.
The Spam brand-themed drone show over Waikīkī Beach will start at 8:30 p.m.
A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to local nonprofit organizations, including the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaiʻi and the Waikīkī Community Center. During the festival, the Hawaiʻi Foodbank will be on-site to accept monetary and canned food donations.
Aloha State Daily will have a booth at the Waikīkī SPAM JAM, so stop by and say hi! We’ll be featuring games with prizes, and if you sign up for our free daily online edition, you can get one of our ASD owl plushies.
Here’s what the food line-up looks like:
Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar
- Spam Caprese slider: Grilled Spam, tomato and mozzarella cheese with basil pesto sauce on Kings Hawaiian sweet slider buns
- Spam garlic bread eggplant with Arrabbiata sauce: Grilled Spam, garlic tomato sauce and eggplant on a Kings Hawaiian roll
Awiwi Grill
- Spam and hotteok skewers
Bite Size 808
- Spam musubi butter mochi: Caramelized diced Spam and furikake on a chewy butter mochi base, topped with Rice Krispies for a lasting crunch
- Local deluxe butter mochi: Inspired by McDonald’s platter; includes Spam and Portuguese sausage on a smooth custard butter mochi base
- Spam cookies
- Spam cheesecake: Creamy classic cheesecake on a crust of Spam crumbs and vanilla wafers; topped with caramelized crispy Spam bites
Blue Water Shrimp
- Spam fried noodles in a pineapple bowl
Buho Cocina y Cantina
- Spam tacos, Spam nachos, elote and churros
Corner Rolls
- SPAMURAI: Spam and Japanese egg sando-inspired spring roll
Da Bald Guy
- Spam sloppy Joe with cheese on King’s Hawaiian roll
- Boneless braised kalbi, peeled garlic butter shrimp, peeled Cajun butter shrimp, chopped rib-eye steak with caramelized onions and Hawaiian barbecue sauce, pan-fried poke with caramelized onions, Spam burger, Spam ice cream
Da Hub Store
- Deep-fried Spam musubi
Da Ultimate Grindz Hawaiʻi
- Ultimate Spam pancit canton
- Loaded loco moco bowl: Brisket, Spam, egg and housemade gravy
Dicks Lechon
- Lechon fried rice and Spam; pancit with lechon and Spam
Dukes Waikīkī
- Teriyaki Spam katsu sandwich: Panko-crusted Spam, pineapple and sesame slaw, teriyaki glaze and sesame aioli on a King’s Hawaiian sweet roll
- Mango barbecue Spam katsu sandwich: Mango barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, black bean and corn slaw on a King’s Hawaiian pretzel
- Candied Spam Hula Pie: Chocolate cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, candied spam topping
Hula Grill Waikīkī
- Kalua pork and Spam nachos; Spam pate pork belly banh mi sandwich
Il Gelato Hawaiʻi
- Tahitian vanilla, Spam caramel, sea salted caramel, HI Gianduia and Kona Coffee gelato; mango sorbetto (vegan-friendly)
Kirin Restaurant
- Spam manapua, Spam siu mai, Spam fried rice and mixed plate
Kūhiō Avenue Food Hall
- Spam nachos, strawberry lemonade
Linakas Catering, LLC
- Gandules rice Spam musubis
- Dynamite Spam twist: Spiral potato topped with crispy Spam, kewpie mayo and unagi drizzle
- Sweet and savory funnel cake fries with crispy Spam sprinkles
Mahaloha Burger
- Spam cheeseburger, teriyaki Spam burger, grilled hot dog and Hawaiian Sun juices
Maui Brewing Co.
- 100-layer Spam yakitori on ginger-scallion fried rice
Musubi Café Iyasume
- Teriyaki Spam, egg Spam, black pepper Spam, avocado bacon egg Spam, and eel egg Spam musubis
ShoreFyre Grill & Bar
- Spam katsu tacos
SKY Waikīkī
- Birria Spam ramen, birria queso tacos, hell fire birria tacos; agua frescas, homemade horchata
StripSteak, A Michael Mina Restaurant
- Spam Philly cheesesteak: “Korean” liquid gold, sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms
Sun Noodle
- Dry mein sando: Dry mein fried noodles on toasted King’s Hawaiian original Hawaiian sweet rolls
Wagyuya Sizzle
- Wagyu Spam skewer, wagyu curry rice with Spam
Waikīkī Shokudo
- Spam and tamago temaki; Spam yakisoba; Spam sweet potato salad
In addition to the April 25 street festival, the popular dine-in Spam event will run from April 18 through May 3. Participating restaurants — including Hideout at the Laylow, Kamukura Ramen, BASALT and Wagyuya Sizzle — will be offering special Spam-themed dishes.
For more information and festival updates, visit spamjamhawaii.com.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
