Page 5 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - April 19, 2023

The Spam Jam Is Back
FROM PAGE 4
The festival celebrates all things Spam and challenges its participating restaurants to incor- porate the product in a fun way. Campbell is particularly looking forward to enjoying Spam tacos and Spam pizza.
music is phenomenal,” Campbell adds. “It’s great for the family to have some fun.”
for the annual showcase.
“We have a great planning
gate the crisis they’ ve just went through,” Campbell continues. “Being able to help the Hawai‘i Food Bank, the Waikīkī Commu- nity Center and Visitor Aloha So- ciety is like the icing on the cake. The proceeds can all benefit these nonprofit organizations that are helping Hawaiʻi.”
Hawaiʻi’s love for Spam is nothing new. Hormel Foods launched the product in 1937. Since then, its popularity within the islands has remained strong with flavors like oven roasted tur- key, jalepeño, hickory smoke, hot and spicy, and the classic original flavor.
Locals, visitors, families — and even pets — are invited to partake in the festivities.
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and its growth since day one. She recalls that the 2019 festival drew between 25,000 and 30,000 attendees. Since Waikīkī is a pop- ular hot spot, Campbell believes the festival can once again hit those numbers this year.
Spam lovers will be pleased to know that Hormel Foods plans to unveil a new flavor and will even offer tastings at the festival.
Since no party is complete without some good music, the festival will set up three enter- tainment stages along Kalākaua Avenue, and feature four to five acts on each stage. From local music to hula hālau, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
“I continue to be amazed that we’ ve developed this festival around Spam that is enjoyed by people around the world,” she says.
“We know that there’s food poverty among people not only in Waikīkī but all around the is- land. The Waikīkī Community Center is really the only center of its kind in Waikīkī and it’s really helped our seniors and our keiki,” she says.
The Spam fun doesn’t end at the festival. For two weeks af- ter the event — from April 30 through May 14 — the com- munity can continue to indulge in Spam during the festival’s Restaurant Week event, during which eateries throughout Waikīkī highlight special Spam dishes on their menus. Among the participating restaurants are Kelley O’Neil’s, Hideout at the Laylow, Aloha Table, Giovanni Pastrami and Eating House 1849.
“(Spam) is such a versatile item. There’s so many different things you can make with it,” Campbell says. “Spam Jam is a good place to come see how many different ways you can make Spam.”
Because it’s a large-scale event, the festival requires a lot of planning. But with some help, Campbell is able to handle her full-time job at Outrigger Resorts & Hotels all the while planning
“And then, of course, Visitor Aloha Society just does amazing work to help those people navi-
In addition to ʻono cuisine, the event will feature more than a
“It’s a fun-filled evening. The
Visit spamjamhawaii.com.
dozen retail booths on site, high- lighting handmade crafts or retail products. Merchandise tents will also be set up for guests wanting official festival items. Among the promised array of Spam-centric products are the vibrant Spam Jam Festival T-shirt, brand-name hats and an exclusive bag from Eden in Love.
s co-founder, Camp- bell has been heavily involved with the event
Hawaiʻi Food Bank serves as a vital link between food donors and food pantries through feed- ing programs. With the Spam Jam Festival being food-centric, it’s only fitting that it supports the nonprofit and its vital cause, ac- cording to Campbell.
“It’s like Waikīkī is yours for that night. You can enjoy the open street,” Campbell shares. “It’s our event — it’s for the people of Ha- waiʻi.”
APRIL 19, 2023 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEE
K5
“Some of the chefs just sur- prise us with different dishes, too,” she says. “We actually make sure that we have a really good assortment so it’s not a lot of the same things. It’ll be a real- ly great variety.”
Attendees are encouraged to keep an eye out for the Spam Jam Festival’s mascots, also known as the Spammy characters.
committee. We all have such a great time doing it together and it all just falls into place,” explains Campbell. “We gather volunteers from all over the island to help pull it off. So it’s a true commu- nity event.”
“They’re so much fun. The kids love them. The adults love them,” notes Campbell. “The people that don these costumes are animated and having so much fun. I smile from ear to ear when I see the kids getting their picture taken with Spammy.”
Not only is the festival put on by the community for the com- munity, but it also gives back to the community. A portion of its proceeds benefit local charities — namely, Hawaiʻi Food Bank, Waikīkī Community Center and Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaiʻi.
Visitors and locals alike are invited to check out the Spam Jam Fesitval and see Waikīkī in a different light. Beyond the good food and entertainment, special parking rates will also be avail- able at certain parking structures.
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