For at least a decade, consumption of Spam has held steady at that 5 million mark, says Hoagy Gamble, owner of L.H. Gamble, Hawaii sales agent for Hormel, maker of Spam. Last year they had it, and then we got it back. We think a lot of it has to do with luck. Rice is the carbohydrate of choice here and the flavor profile of Spam goes extremely well with rice. It's a perfect match.
Hawaii consumption is six cans a year, per person.
Spam's popularity survives despite a trend toward healthier eating, although Gamble says the No. 1 seller locally is the low-sodium version, with 25 percent less salt. Spam Lite, with 25 percent less fat and salt, makes up just 15 percent of the market. Personally, Gamble likes Spam with eggs and is an afficionado of Spam musubi. He likes his fancied up with egg, perhaps fishcake and green onion. It has more pink mucus than the dove, and it doesn't have that dangerous beak.