Why the best Hawaiian hot dog is Spam musubi
Hot dogs are, arguably, the most all-American food. They were "invented" in the U.S. when German immigrants began serving sausages in buns, they became a staple of baseball games - the all-American pastime - and they are truly democratic: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them. And they're served a little differently in every corner of the country.
So when it came time to name Hawaii's entry in the United States of Hot Dogs, for many Hawaiians, there was only one correct answer: The Spam musubi - a local icon that swaps the frank for Spam, bread for seaweed and the ballpark for the beach.
And while no, it's not technically a hot dog, it serves the same purpose: portable, salty, satisfying and made with meat you're forbidden to ask too many questions about.
Just try it. The buggah is mean (it's seriously good). Broke da mouth (delicious).
What is Spam musubi?
Spam musubi starts with a thick slice of shoyu-sugar-seared Spam set on a block of sticky white rice that's sprinkled with furikake, a savory Japanese rice seasoning. The combination is then wrapped tightly in nori, or dried seaweed, to hold it all together.
If Spam isn't your thing - how dare you - locals just as eagerly devour katsubi (a chicken katsu musubi), egg musubi or even, yes, hot dog musubi. Red hot dogs only.
Where does one eat Spam musubi? Anywhere, always. Musubi are almost always tightly bundled in plastic wrap, ready to move. Pack a few as you head to the beach. Toss one in your carry-on before a flight. Shove a few in your bag before a hike - they are a true Hawaii power bar.
Where did Spam musubi come from?
Spam became a staple in Hawaii during World War II, when it was shipped to the islands as a protein-rich, shelf-stable option for soldiers stationed in the islands. Fresh meat was not always easy to come by, so locals folded Spam into everyday cooking. Over time, it became more than convenient - it became comfort.
While the original creator of the Spam musubi is not universally agreed on, some credit the late Barbara Funamura, a Japanese-American nutritionist and business owner who is said to have invented the Hawaiian delicacy and popularized it at Joni-Hana restaurant in Kukui Grove Center in Kauai in the 1980s.
Best places to try a Spam musubi
One of the best places to get your hands on Hawaii's "hot dog" - Spam musubi - is a gas station.
No, seriously.
Ask anyone in Hawaiʻi where to find the best musubi, and chances are they'll point you toward a convenience shop, grocery store, or, hold my hand as I say this, a gas station.
Every local has a go-to musubi spot. Here are a few beloved stops across the islands to try one:
- Tanioka's Seafoods & Catering (Oahu): 94-903 Farrington Hwy, Waipahu. 808-671-3779.
- Paʻalaʻa Kai Mini Mart (Oahu): 66-1425 Kaukonahua Road, Waialua. 808-637-9182.
- Kaohu Store (Maui): 1833 Kaohu St., Wailuku. 808-244-7878.
- Keaukaha General Store (Big Island): 11 Silva St., Hilo. 808-969-1169.
- Miyako Sushi (Maui): 1883 Wili Pa Loop, Suite #1, Wailuku. 808-244-0085.
Ashley Pōkiʻi Lewis is the managing editor for USA TODAY's audience team and born and raised on Maui, Hawai'i. Shoot her a shaka at ashley@usatoday.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why the best Hawaiian hot dog is Spam musubi
Reporting by Ashley Pōkiʻi Lewis and Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 12:28 AM.