Hawaiians genuinely love Spam and eat it really well.

It's no joke; having milk and Spam in the fridge is a must. In the morning, they fry Spam and put it on rice, for lunch they carry Spam musubi, and for dinner, they make Spam fried rice.

Looking at the shelf space Spam occupies in Hawaiian convenience stores shows just how serious the locals are about their love for Spam. Here, Spam is not just food; it's a part of life, culture, and memories.

However, I am surprised to hear that Spam is not very popular on the mainland U.S.

In Korea, Spam is a common gift set during holidays and is considered essential in budae jjigae, but Spam is somewhat different from what we usually refer to as ham.

It is made from lower-quality pork shoulder that is finely ground, seasoned, and pressed into a rectangular can. But it pairs perfectly with rice.

When you fry it in a pan with some oil, the savory fat oozes out, and the smell is incredible. When you put some kimchi on top and eat it with rice, you can easily finish a bowl in no time.

When raising kids in Korea, the go-to item taken out from the fridge after standing in front of it for a while was Spam. Slicing it thin and frying it until golden, then wrapping it with eggs and kimchi made lunchbox worries disappear.

Many people on the mainland U.S. reportedly do not like Spam. It still carries the image of cheap canned food or emergency rations from wartime.

But here in Hawaii, Spam is almost a national dish. It's harder to find a house without Spam in the fridge. Convenience stores always have Spam musubi, and it proudly appears on restaurant menus. Every year, there's a Spam festival, and tourists often tilt their heads in confusion at first but end up trying it. Still, I dislike Spam burgers too.

The reason Hawaiians love Spam so much is simple. It's salty, greasy, and pairs perfectly with rice. Plus, being canned makes it easy to store and can be cooked up anytime for a meal. Given that Hawaii has had many military bases for a long time, this type of food has naturally taken root here.

Today, I will buy a few cans of Spam while grocery shopping. For Hawaiian aunties, this is as essential as any basic necessity.