The 14th annual Waikiki Spam Jam, one of the Aloha State’s most popular food festivals, will be held April 30.
Attracting around 25,000 people to Waikiki’s Kalakaua Avenue, the event takes over Hawaii’s most popular visitor destination with live music performances, arts and crafts vendors, and a range of food booths, all featuring Spam creations.
Spam has long been loved by Hawaii residents, who buy 7 million cans annually, more than any other U.S. state, according to event officials. The Spam Jam was dreamed up by Bitsy Kelly, granddaughter of Outrigger founders Roy and Estelle Kelly, and launched in 2002.
“The Waikiki Spam Jam Festival is a wonderful celebration of a local staple that is intertwined with Hawaii’s history and culture,” Barbara Campbell, Outrigger’s vice president of retail leasing and development, said in a statement. “Food has a way of bringing people together, and Outrigger is proud to help gather the community for such a fun event that benefits the local families and individuals who receive support from the Hawaii Food Bank.”
Guests booked at an Outrigger Resort or Ohana Hotel property in Waikiki over the April 30 weekend can earn a free, one-category room upgrade (based on availability) for donating a can of Spam product at check-in.
There’s no admission fee for the Waikiki Spam Jam, and volunteers work booths, where festival attendees are encouraged to donate cans of Spam. In 2015, the event raised over $25,000 for the Hawaii Food Bank and collected over 2,200 pounds of canned food, according to officials.
For more event details, visit www.spamjamhawaii.com.