Your Insider Guide to Waikīkī Spam Jam

Spam Musubi Butter Mochi?! Yes, really, and you can try it yourself at this year’s Waikīkī Spam Jam. In fact, you’ll find the beloved processed meat in all its forms. Think: Spam gelato, Spam + truffle cream, deep-fried Spam bombs and more.

In addition to unique dishes, the festival will feature live entertainment on three stages, retail vendors, Spam pop-up shops selling apparel and accessories, and new this year—a Spam-themed drone show over Waikīkī Beach.

Now in its 21st year, the Waikīkī Spam Jam is a fan-favorite for locals and visitors. It’s the biggest Spam brand celebration in the world, welcoming an average of 40,000 attendees every year. USA Today even named the block party one of the “Top Ten Best Cultural Festivals” in the nation for the third year in a row.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Hawai‘i Foodbank with two tents onsite accepting non-perishable food donations. The event also raises funds for the Waikīkī Community Center and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai‘i. Last year, more than $49,000 was raised for these organizations.

Click to the info you want to explore:

• When and Where
• What to Eat
• What to Do
• What to Buy
• Dine-In Spam Event
• Tips

When and Where

The block party is on Saturday, April 26, from 4 to 10 p.m., along Kalākaua Ave. from Seaside Ave. to Lili‘uokalani Ave. in Waikīkī.

How Much It Costs

Admission is free. Food, beverages and merchandise will be available for purchase from individual vendors.

Where to Park

Parking in Waikīkī is always tricky, especially during large events. Here are some options:

International Market Place

• Entrance at the intersection of Kūhiō Ave. and Walina St.
• A minimum purchase of $25 at an International Market Place merchant is required for validation
• Rates with validation: free for the first hour, $2 for the second hour, $2 for the third hour, $4 per 30 minutes for the fourth hour and beyond

Royal Hawaiian Center

• Entrance at the intersection of Royal Hawaiian Ave. and Don Ho Lane
• A minimum purchase of $25 at a Royal Hawaiian Center merchant is required for validation
• Through 8 p.m., receive kama‘āina/military validation from Helumoa Hale Guest Services, located at Building B, Level 1, next to The Royal Grove
  • Kama‘āina/military rates with validation: free for the first 3 hours, $8/hr for the 4th hour

SEE ALSO: Where to Park in Waikīkī

What to Eat

From sweet to savory and everything in between, expect creative concoctions where Spam is the star of the show. Here’s a sampling of the offerings, so you can start to work up an appetite:

Asato Family

• Spam, Egg & Rice Custard
• Spam Onigiri
• Li Hing Mui Jam
• Li Hing Gummy Candy
• Classic Sherbert

Basalt

• Spam Bao Bun
• Black Sesame Tiramisu

Bite Size 808

• Spam Musubi Butter Mochi
• Spam Eggs & Rice Butter Mochi
• Spam Butter Pecan Cupcakes
• Spam Eggs & Rice Cupcakes
• Poi Mochi
• Banana Lumpia
• Deep-Fried Oreos
• Beignets

Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood

• Spam Fried Noodles in a Pineapple
• Pineapple Smoothie in a Pineapple
• Fresh Sliced Pineapple
• Ice Cold Coconut

Buho Cocina Y Cantina

• Spam Tacos
• Spam Nachos
• Street Corn
• Churros
• Strawberry Jamaica Agua Fresca
• Horchata

Corner Rolls

• Spam, Portuguese Sausage, Fluffy Egg, Spring Roll Maki

Da Bald Guy

• Spam Sloppy Joe Burger
• Spam Corn Chowder
• Pan Fried Poke with Aioli
• Chopped Ribeye Steak with Caramelized Onions
• Garlic Butter Shrimp
• Chipotle Cajun Butter Shrimp

Da Hub

• Deep-fried Spam musubi with poke
• Deep-fried Spam cheese omelets sandwich
• Pochomiyaki Spam noodle omelets

Da Ultimate Grindz

• Ultimate Classic Spam Loco Moco
• Ultimate Truffle Cream Spam Bowl
• Spam Yakisoba
• Grilled Pork Belly Plate
• Smoked Beef Brisket Plate
• Ultimate Garlic Butter Shrimp
• Loaded Poutine Fries Topped with Spam Bits

Dick’s Lechon

• Pancit with Lechon + Spam
• Lechon Fried Rice
• Pork Skewers
• Pork Lumpia
• Banana Lumpia
• BBQ Chix With Fried Rice / Pancit

Duke’s Waikīkī

• Teriyaki Spam Katsu Slider
• Mango BBQ Spam Katsu Slider
• Candied Spam Hula Pie

El Cielo

• Surf & Turf Paella – Spam & Shrimp Paella
• Spam Empanada

Gen Korean BBQ

• Kim Chee Spam Fried Rice with Spam Shaka

Hula Grill

• Kalua Pork Spam Nachos
• Truffle Spam Saimin

Il Gelato

• Tahitian Vanilla Gelato
• Spam Caramel Gelato
• Sea Salted Caramel Gelato
• HI Gianduia Gelato
• Mango Sorbetto

Kababa Mama

• Smashed Spam Burger in House-Made Pita

Khan Skewer

• Pork Belly with Spam Skewer
• Beef Skewer
• Lamb Skewer
• Spam with Asparagus
• Maui Venison Skewer
• Spam Fried Rice

Kirin Restaurant

• Spam Spring Roll
• Spam Manapua
• Spam Pork Hash
• Spam Fried Rice
• Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Kūhiō Ave. Food Hall

• Spam Nachos
• Strawberry Lemonade

Maui Brewing Company

• Deep-Fried Spam Bomb with Kupu Whiskey Garlic Soy Sauce

Moani Waikīkī

• Char Siu Glazed Spam Bao Mi

Musubi Café lyasume

• Teriyaki Spam Musubi
• Egg & Spam Musubi
• Black Pepper Spam Musubi
• Eel, Egg & Spam Musubi
• Bacon, Egg, Avocado & Spam Musubi

Olay’s Thai Lao Express

• Spam Summer Rolls
• Spam Pad Thai
• Spam Satay
• Spring Rolls
• BBQ Sticks
• Thai Tea and Coffee

Restaurant 604

• Spicy Spam on Bomb Bites
• Inari Spam Fried Rice
• Combo Bomb

Shorefyre

• Poke Nachos with a Spam Garnish

Sky Waikīkī

• Spam Chili Cheese Hot Dog
• Spam Chili Cheese Nachos

Stripsteak

• Spam Wellington
• Pineapple Limeade

Sun Noodle

• Maui-Style Dry Mein Sando with Spam

Teapresso

• Hojicha Milk Tea with Cheese Foam & Honey-Glazed Spam
• Brown Sugar Milk Tea
• Teapresso Milk Tea
• Jasmine Lychee Iced Tea
• Strawberry Liliko‘i Lemonade
• Mango Lychee Lemonade

Yakiniku Sizzle

• Yakiniku Spam Dog
• Shoyu Pork Spam Dog
• Stick Spam Croquette
• Yakiniku Spam bowl

What to Do

There’s something for everyone at the festival. Stop by the photo booth to take selfies with the mascots Spammy and Musubi. Families will enjoy the games and activities at the Keiki Korner tent. And remember to drop off canned food or monetary donations at the Hawai‘i Foodbank tent to be entered to win a pair of round-trip air tickets to anywhere Southwest Airlines flies.

When you’re too full to eat another bite, take a break and enjoy music, hula and dance performances on three stages along Kalākaua Avenue. The entertainment is packed with top-notch talent, including Tavana, Kala‘e and Kalena and Kaylee Shimizu from The Voice. Plus, don’t miss the first-ever Spam Jam drone show at 9 p.m.

Outrigger Resorts Stage

In front of Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

4:30 p.m. Kala‘e Camarillo

5:30 p.m. JLYN

5:55 p.m. Kailua Moon

6:20 p.m. Tavana

6:45 p.m. Anthony Pfluke

7:10 p.m. Kala‘e and Kalena

7:30 p.m. Kahiau Lam Ho

8:30 p.m. Greg Sardinha & Friends – Tribute to Pahinui ‘Ohana

Southwest Airlines Stage

In front of Royal Hawaiian Center

4:30 p.m. POP 808 Hawai‘i

5:30 p.m. 808 Breakers

6:30 p.m. Kaylee Shimizu

7:30 p.m. Jody Kamisato & Friends

8:30 p.m. Close The Distance

Hawaiian Music Preservation Society Stage

In front of the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort

4:30 p.m. Halau Hula o Kekaikuihala

5:30 p.m. Hui O Napuala‘ikauikaiu

6:30 p.m. HMPS Dancers

7:30 p.m. Halau Hula O Hokulani

9 p.m. Drone Show

What to Buy

Spam lovers can’t help but bring home a souvenir, including this year’s collectible T-shirt and Eden in Love collaboration bags. You can purchase these items at two booths during the festival or at a pop-up shop at Waikīkī Beach Walk (227 Lewers St.) on Friday, April 25, 3 to 8 p.m. or Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will also be a variety of local crafts, treats and gifts vendors at the festival:

• Aloha Charms
• Asian Elements
• Aloha Wood Art
• Bamboo Stickers
• Bay Dreams
• BV Global
• Charles Chang ‘Ukuleles
• Diamond Head Taffy
• Hawaiian Paradise Candies
• Hawaiian Premier Puzzles
• Mana Jewelry
• O‘ahu Gear
• Pa‘ani Pups
• Paleta
• Simply Wood
• These Stuffed Cookies

Dine-In Spam Event

If you need even more Spam in your life, you’re in luck. Participating restaurants are serving unique Spam dishes from April 19 to May 4 as part of a can-to-table restaurant week:

Island-Wide

7-Eleven

• Buy two original Spam musubi, get one free April 21–27

Jack in the Box

• Spam Teriyaki Jr. Jack

Waikīkī

Aloha Amigo

• Spicy Spam Poke Nachos

Aloha Pizzeria

• Hawaiian Pizza with Spam

Banzai Burger

• Hawaiian Burger with Spam

Basalt

• Basalt Spam Breakfast
• Spam Eggs Benedict
• Spam Fried Rice
• Loco Moco Spam Style
• Spam Frittata

Eating House 1849

• Spam Crab Cake

Ginza Bairin

• Spam Katsu Sandwich

Greek Grotto

• Gyro with Spam

Genius Lounge

• Spam Katsu with Mac Nut Sweet Chili Sauce

Hashi & Spoon

• Tonkotsu, Tan Tan, Shio, Miso or Shoyu Ramen with Spam

Hideout at the Laylow

• Spam Bibimbap
• Spam Carbonara

Kamukura Surf + Dine

• Spam Ramen

Kayak Café

• Spam Shaka Bloody Mary
• Spam Eggs Benedict
• Spam Hawaiian Pizza

La Piña Cantina

• Spam Nachos
• Spam Can Mai Tai

Liliha Bakery

• Saimin with Spam
• Jumbo Garlic Shrimp Saimin with Spam
• Two Eggs with Spam
• Garlic Fried Rice with Spam
• Country-Style Omelet with Spam

Moani Waikīkī

• Spam Mac & Cheese

Skybox Taphouse

• Aloha Pizza with Pomodoro Sauce, Spam, Bacon, Pineapple, Calabrian Chilis, Green Onion & Furikake

Tips

• If you’re driving in the area, heads-up that Kalākaua Avenue will be completely closed to car traffic from 2 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, April 26. The closure will be from Seaside Ave. to Lili‘uokalani Ave.
• Arrive early to score a parking spot in one of the Waikīkī garages. Otherwise, plan to use a ride share service or TheBus.
• Bring reusable bags to carry your merchandise and food purchases. Or buy an adorable Spam Jam x Eden in Love collaboration bag.
• The best spot to view the drone show is from the beach in front of the Duke Kahanamoku statue.
• Don’t want to drive home after the event? Outrigger Resorts is offering special discounts on rooms at several of its Waikīkī hotels. Southwest Airlines is also offering discounted airfare if you’re flying in for the event.

Waikīkī Spam Jam, Saturday, April 26, 4 to 10 p.m., along Kalākaua Ave. from Seaside Ave. to Lili‘uokalani Ave., spamjamhawaii.com, @waikikispamjam