Living808 - Hula Grill Waikiki Serves Up Creative Dishes at the 20th Annual SPAM JAM

Get ready, SPAM fans—the Waikiki SPAM JAM is returning for its 20th year on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM along Kalakaua Avenue. The annual food festival celebrates Hawaii’s long-standing love affair with the iconic canned meat, with nearly seven million cans consumed across the islands each year. Among the local restaurants participating once again is Hula Grill Waikiki. Kelly went out to the restaurant to meet up with General Manager Michelle Whitton and Chef Steve Balantac for a sneak peek at their mouthwatering creations.

This year, Hula Grill is spotlighting two flavors of SPAM. The first is a bold take on their Kalua Pig Won Ton Nachos featuring classic SPAM, jalapeños, lomi tomato, a creamy SPAM queso sauce, and crispy SPAM crumbles. The second dish brings a Filipino-inspired twist to a local comfort favorite—SPAM Saimin. This version uses the “Ticino” SPAM flavor, paired with truffle saimin dashi, kamaboko, green onions, and tamago.

“Hula Grill has been a participant at SPAM JAM every year,” said Michelle. “Even though it’s a lot of work, it’s a fun event, and we get to share our SPAM culture around the world.”