A closer look
Hawaiians consume more Spam per capita than any other state in the United States, eating around seven million cans a year of the gelatinous pink mystery meat thanks to a culinary obsession that dates back to World War II, when the military flooded the islands with the non-perishable rations, and locals brilliantly adapted it into their culture instead of rightfully rejecting it as a crime against gastronomy; if you fly all the way to Honolulu expecting nothing but fresh poke and tropical fruit, you will be shocked to find Spam musubi dominating the shelves of every single convenience store from Waikiki to Maui, creating a fascinating travel experience where you watch tourists in floral shirts shell out premium vacation dollars to eat sliced canned pork wrapped in seaweed, fully embracing a dish born purely out of wartime logistical desperation
