HONOLULU (KHON2) — It’s a snack that has withstood the test of time. First enjoyed in 1937 during World War II, spam musubi has become a popular snack enjoyed around the world, especially here in Hawaii.
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However, the history behind its creation remains somewhat uncertain.
Well-recognized franchises like L&L, the original Hawaiian Barbecue that serves authentic Hawaiian plates, have been serving spam musubi since 1999, according to the restaurant.
“Spam musubi is a symbol and staple of Hawaii,” stated Brandon Dela Cruz, L&L Director of Marketing. “Through all of our locations, we sell 6.2 million spam musubi annually.”
If Hawaii were its own country, it would be a top-five market for SPAM in the world, according to the brand owner of SPAM, Hormel Foods. The company sells seven million cans just in Hawaii each year.
“It’s a perfect manifestation of Hawaiian culture, and it’s done in a way that is accessible to anybody,” said Jason Baskin, SPAM Director of Marketing. “We refer to Hawaii as the cultural heartbeat of the SPAM brand.”