Aloha Kakahiaka

Every now and again, I like to reach back into my bag of past inspirations – like celebrating a particular state. Today just happens to be Hawaii Day. There are a lot of ways to bring the feel of Hawaii home, but the Filipino in me wants to celebrate with a delicacy that once was a symbol of wealth.

Believe it or not, once upon a time a person’s wealth and connections could be measured by the canned goods in the pantry. In 1937 SPAM hit the American Markets, but the real consumers were our soldiers. SPAM shipped easily, with a shelf-life of five years. When SPAM arrived in Hawaii (and the Philippines), only those with GI connections to the commissary could get the prized canned meats. Those selling SPAM on the black market did so at an inflated price. If you had SPAM, it meant either you had connections or had money to burn.

Growing up, SPAM was often found at our breakfast table. I honestly thought it was a Filipino thing (since none of my American friends had the same fondness for the salty pressed meats) until I went to Hawaii. In Hawaii the obsession for SPAM has taken on a whole new meaning. In Honolulu there is a mall within walking distance of the Cruise Ships. In the food court is a place that cooks up nothing but SPAM.

To celebrate the Hawaiian Islands and my own island heritage, this seemed a most fitting breakfast. Enjoy!

ʻAina Kakahiaka Spam Hawaiʻi
(Hawaiian Spam Breakfast)
Day-Old Rice
1-1/2 cups Rice
2 cups Water

Place rice and water in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cook until water has evaporated and the rice is soft and fluffy, about 15 minutes.

Line a rimmed baking pan with foil, spray with cooking spray. Spread rice out in the pan to fully cool. Once cooled, it can be used to make the fried rice or refrigerated for a day.

Spam Fried Rice
4 oz Spam
4 Green Onions
2 Eggs
3 cups Day-Old Rice (above)
1 package Sun-Bird Fried Rice Seasoning
Soy Sauce to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Dice Spam into small cubed pieces. Snip green onions. Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl. Set aside.

Melt a tablespoon of bacon drippings or lard in a wok or high-sided skillet. Fry up the Spam pieces until just beginning to brown a bit. Add beaten eggs and begin to scramble. Eggs should be runny and just beginning to set with the cold rice is added to the pan.

Continue to scramble the eggs and rice together, separating the rice grains as they warm in the eggs. Make sure the eggs and rice are well-blended together and that the eggs are now fully cooked.

Sprinkle seasoning mix over the fried rice. Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to help seasoning mix into the rice. Add a second tablespoon of soy sauce and mix well.

Toss green onions into the fried rice, folding to distribute the onions throughout the rice. Season with a little black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and keep warm.

Fried Spam
4 oz Spam
Lard or Bacon Grease

Slice Spam into serving slices. Lightly coat the bottom of a skillet with bacon drippings or lard. Warm over medium heat.

While the oil heats in the skillet, warm oven to 300-degrees. Place a serving platter in the oven to warm.

Lightly fry the Spam Slices as you would bacon, just until heated through and black-brown flakes appear. Transfer to the warm serving platter.

Scrambled Eggs
6 large fresh Eggs
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to tste

Heat oil, lard, bacon drippings or olive oil in a flat skillet over medium-low heat. Crack eggs, one at a time in a dish, then slide into the oil. Fry undisturbed until the whites are set. Baste with the hot oil to cook yolks as desired.

Transfer to serving platter to serve alongside the Spam. Serve this breakfast with a pot of freshly brewed Kona Coffee kissed with Vanilla and a hint of cinnamon.

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Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.